A hallmark of a good striker is one who grabs an opportunity with both hands and delivers the goods in the hour of need – despite getting splinters on the bench.
And that is exactly what Nawaz Salie, Vasco da Gama’s goal hero, displayed against Junction Rovers with his brace during a 2-0 win for the Parow-based team in a ABC Motsepe League match on Saturday afternoon to ensure their top spot in Stream A thus far.
Needless to say, Salie, a former La Masia player, has now given his coach Andrew Pequeno – who mostly opts to play with one striker – something to think about regarding his strike force, which includes Luciano Johnson and TJ Diedericks.
Salie, a product from the now-defunct Ajax Cape Town and Cape Town Spurs Academy, joined up with Vasco in July and has since had very limited game time and only featured for a couple of minutes in a Nedbank Cup tie – until Pequeno unleashed him on Saturday to weave his magic.
The big-built 21-year-old Salie explained to No Bones with Jones: “No, no, no… Look, it’s obviously difficult not to be part of the plans for a certain amount of time, but as you know, Allah (God) is great, and if you keep on working hard and pushing, things will eventually come your way. And as you stated, one should be professional about it.
“So, on training all you need to do is your best- and if you are not in the squad, then it’s fine, all praise to Allah. For instance, if you go on a Monday or Wednesday, or whenever you train, you must just keep pushing as your chance is going to come. And when it does come, you must make full use of it,” Salie added.
It will be interesting to see what Pequeno has in mind and how he’ll juggle his strikeforce for their next fixture against Hout Bay United Football Club away in Hout Bay.
This will indeed be a tricky fixture for Pequeno and his troops as Hout Bay United are hurting after two successive losses against FN Rangers and Hanover Park FC.
Salie, a former learner from Mondale High in Mitchells Plain, thinks that it’s important to set personal objectives and, as any goal poacher, has a goal tally in mind for the season. He was, however, rather tight-lipped about revealing his number for the season.
“Look, I don’t allow that to consume my thoughts, you know. All I think about is how I can contribute to the team and help my teammates to prosper, as we know football is a team effort. Also, I could not have scored the two goals without their assistance, you know. So, for me, the team is always my first priority.
“Because let’s face it, as a striker, as much as you want to, you are not always going to score, so how else are you going to contribute to the team? So, you also need to contribute with your all-around ability so that the club can collectively achieve success,” Salie concluded.
