While Stream B of the ABC Motsepe League is wrapped up already with Hanover Park FC as the winners-elect, things in Stream A are heating up and not so clear cut after all.
This is largely due to a late surge by the newcomers to the league Vasco da Gama who are breathing down the neck of the log leader Zizwe United.
Only three points separate Zizwe from second-placed Vasco with three games to go and it is definitely going down to the wire.
Zizwe next face Hout Bay United FC (away) followed by two home games against City Kings and Ubuntu Football Club, while Vasco make the short trip to their neighbours Cape Town Spurs for a derby, followed by Junction Rovers ( home) and ending with Crystal Palace (away).
Based on this, Vasco’s astute tactician Andrew Pequeno (pictured) still believes Zizwe’s will be triumphant as they have an easier run-in.
“They have two home games and we have two away games out of our three and the goal difference is on their side. They will also have to drop points twice ” Pequeno stated to No Bones with Jones.
“So, that is what needs to happen but we’ll keep on going, you know. We have now won eight in a row so I can’t really complain, hey…. If we finish the season winning 11 in a row and we don’t catch them, then good luck to them,” the former Hanover Park FC mentor added.
Whether Zizwe slip and Vasco do manage to overtake them, or not, the fact remains it has been a remarkable debut season for the newbie from Parow Park in the tougher of the two streams.
Looking back from where Pequeno started his journey with Vasco, last season in the ‘graveyard’ league of the Hollywoodbets Third Division, winning that convincingly along with winning promotion to the Second Division and now challenging for the stream – one has to commend him for a sterling job – whether you like him or not.
Needless to say, Pequeno became very unpopular at one stage for the hard decisions taken as head coach at the club.
“Seeing where we are…Yoh! I think it’s all down to the players, you know. They are the ones who put in the hard work. They are the ones week after week…. we’ve been winning, one goal, one goal, one goal… It’s their determination that keeps us going, you know.
“I have to also admit it has been tough and stressful for me personally. But for me, chasing is always stressful. But look, we’ll keep on plugging away and see what happens,” Pequeno concluded.
The latest log is as follows.
