Discipline, commitment and belief!
These three attributes have been key factors which allowed Tafelzucht to adopt the ‘Giant Slayer-tag’ and to navigate their way through the gruelling Coke Cup competition,
So says Oswald Sauls (pictured right), coach of the Tafelsig-based side who has been punching above its weight and ruffling feathers in this prestigious cup competition.
Sauls’ Tafelzucht have thus far humbled the big guns and tournament favourites such as the former multiple champion Hanover Park FC in the Round of 16 followed by the scalp of the 2016 winner Young Pirates whom they beat 2-1 in the quarterfinal at the Downberg Road on Sunday thanks to goals via Keano Josiah and Sauls’ son Yaseen Hartley (pictured left).
They now play another big fish in Saxon Rovers in the semi-final at the Westridge Sports Complex in Mitchells Plain on Sunday.
Tafelzucht, along with its partisan support should by now have done enough to strike fear into their much more influential opponents indicating that they are going all the way.
Sauls has already led his side to the League and Cup double at their Mitchells Plain LFA. The former Ajax Cape Town employee stated that they are aiming to go for the treble.
“The team has shown that nothing is impossible,” Sauls stated to No Bones with Jones. “Whatever comes our way, we can handle it. My players are naturally talented. So, my job is to teach them and focus on the discipline and commitment aspects but soccer wise they know their story. Therefore, I am blessed to coach these players.
“In our LFA there is no club that does not want these players. People hunted them down but fortunately they came to play for me and I took them with open arms as I know what they are capable of,” Sauls added.
Tafelzucht have shown their belief and will to win throughout the competition albeit that they scrapped through on penalties during earlier rounds. Their fighting spirit is second to none as they have shown they have the ability to wipe out deficits to win matches – as was the case again on Sunday when they came from behind to shock Pirates.
“The guys play with heart and leave everything on the field and as a coach you cannot ask for more, you know,” said the optimistic coach.
Sauls has indicated that he is concerned about one of his mainstays in Emraan Rayners who’ll in all likelihood miss out the semifinal clash against Saxons due to a hamstring injury.
“But I’m happy that my general in the midfield Graig Hendricks is available following a suspension he picked up in the knockout competition at their LFA,” Sauls concluded.
Saxons themselves look the real deal in search of their maiden title which makes for a wonderful spectacle – so, too, will Young Idols from Manenberg want to prove a point when they square up against Vasco da Gama in the other semi.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY AMN STUDIO
