Statisticians obsessed with numbers will be pedantic and remind you that veteran attacker Gavin Hammers currently averages 1.75 goals per game to be exact – which is not too shabby for a player in the twilight of his career.
And with the season that just passed the halfway stage, the former Cape Umoya and Glendene United winger has vowed that he is aiming for more to firstly improve Crystal Palace’s title chances in the Hollywoodbets Third Division.
The Manenberg-based team, coached by two wily old foxes in Bradley August and Goodwin Lewis, who’s both won promotion with Palace in the past, are again showing their worth in this unpredictable ‘marathon’ league which is starting to reach the business end.
To Palace’s credit, they have stayed in the hunt and are currently second with 40 points, three behind Andrew Pequeno’s Vasco da Gama who are setting the pace.
Hammers, who is also Palace’s most senior figure and captain of the side, believes the calmness of their experienced coaches are bringing the best out of the players.
“As a team we have set goals for the season and the main goal is to challenge for the league,” Hammers told No Bones with Jones. “Plus, like you see we are on the right track to be serious contenders so I strongly think you can consider us as contenders.
“We have some exciting youngsters and the coaches allow them to express themselves nicely as they are all still learning,” the Stellenbosch-born Hammers added.
The 32-year-old Hammers twice won the Second Division League title with Glendene United and reached the last eight of the Nedbank Cup with Cape Umoya. Yet he is still pushing for more success, hopefully adding the Third Division title as well.
Hammers further explained: “Football is something that I love doing, I’m very passionate and whatever happens I keep on going. I feel fit and my body is in good shape.
“What’s important is that we should remain focussed and humble in our approach. Take it one game at a time like we did up until now,” he concluded.
