Mthatha Bucks league benchwarmers will get the nod ahead of regulars when the Mthatha side collide with Santos in the Nedbank Cup last 32 at Athlone Stadium tonight at 7.30pm.
This according to Bucks head coach Velile Dyaloyi, who believes senior players, most of whom are not regular starters in the league due to the under-fire U23 NFD policy, should get the opportunity to prove themselves.
“Veza”, as the Bucks coach is affectionately known in football circles, was confident that his benchwarmers will step up to the plate.
Dyaloyi is not bothered that his side have played two draws in their previous two matches in the league, scoring only a single goal.
“That is why this time around I am going with those who have not been getting a chance to play,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for them to get game time and prove that they deserve to play ahead of those who have been playing and I can tell they can do it if what I saw in training is anything to go by.”
Their struggle in the league where they are fighting to avoid relegation, said Dyaloyi, did not mean that they would struggle in cup competitions.
Progression to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup was welcome although the league remained priority.
“We cannot crucify ourselves because of our situation in the league, if there are chances of us going all the way to the final in the Nedbank Cup we will take full advantage of that but equally so our full concentration is on the league.”
When the two sides met two months ago in a league meeting, Bucks emerged 2-1 victors.
They will be hoping that history repeats itself in this crucial Nedbank Cup encounter.
But Dyaloyi does not want to rely on history as he believes this may allow complacency.
“We may have won against them in the league but that is neither here nor there, we do not want take our opponents for granted hence we are going there with the mentality that we are playing them for the first time.”
While Santos are 10th in the log-standings with 23 points from 21 outings with Bucks lying 15th, the gap between the two is a mere six points.
Dyaloyi has put his head on the block, assuring the club’s management that Bucks will survive the relegation axe come shine or rain.
He draws his confidence from the unblemished record they managed during their four matches in February where they collected six points out of a possible 12.
“We had planned to at least bag eight points but six points is not bad, especially when you did not lose.
“We can only build from that going forward hence I can confidently say I am 100% sure that this club will not get relegated.”
Santos coach Zeca Marques was also in confident mode. “We would rather be playing Mthatha Bucks than one of the bigger fish,” Marques told the Dispatch.
“We know it will be a difficult game though, it’s probably 50-50 on who will win, but at least they play in our league so we know a lot about them”. — Additional reporting by Nick Said
Bucks fired up for Cape of Storms
This according to Bucks head coach Velile Dyaloyi, who believes senior players, most of whom are not regular starters in the league due to the under-fire U23 NFD policy, should get the opportunity to prove themselves.
“Veza”, as the Bucks coach is affectionately known in football circles, was confident that his benchwarmers will step up to the plate.
Dyaloyi is not bothered that his side have played two draws in their previous two matches in the league, scoring only a single goal.
“That is why this time around I am going with those who have not been getting a chance to play,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for them to get game time and prove that they deserve to play ahead of those who have been playing and I can tell they can do it if what I saw in training is anything to go by.”
Their struggle in the league where they are fighting to avoid relegation, said Dyaloyi, did not mean that they would struggle in cup competitions.
Progression to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup was welcome although the league remained priority.
“We cannot crucify ourselves because of our situation in the league, if there are chances of us going all the way to the final in the Nedbank Cup we will take full advantage of that but equally so our full concentration is on the league.”
When the two sides met two months ago in a league meeting, Bucks emerged 2-1 victors.
They will be hoping that history repeats itself in this crucial Nedbank Cup encounter.
But Dyaloyi does not want to rely on history as he believes this may allow complacency.
“We may have won against them in the league but that is neither here nor there, we do not want take our opponents for granted hence we are going there with the mentality that we are playing them for the first time.”
While Santos are 10th in the log-standings with 23 points from 21 outings with Bucks lying 15th, the gap between the two is a mere six points.
Dyaloyi has put his head on the block, assuring the club’s management that Bucks will survive the relegation axe come shine or rain.
He draws his confidence from the unblemished record they managed during their four matches in February where they collected six points out of a possible 12.
“We had planned to at least bag eight points but six points is not bad, especially when you did not lose.
“We can only build from that going forward hence I can confidently say I am 100% sure that this club will not get relegated.”
Santos coach Zeca Marques was also in confident mode. “We would rather be playing Mthatha Bucks than one of the bigger fish,” Marques told the Dispatch.
“We know it will be a difficult game though, it’s probably 50-50 on who will win, but at least they play in our league so we know a lot about them”. — Additional reporting by Nick Said
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos