Diadora FC’s coach Zain Abrahams is understandably in a buoyant mood after his team convincingly wrapped up Stream B of the ABC Motsepe League with a four-point gap and a game to spare, which is pretty impressive, despite it being labelled as the ‘weaker stream’.
That said, Abrahams along with his assistants, Sherwin Sauls, Sardick Barends and the rest of his technical team now have the luxury of intensively studying their potential opponents for the final as Stream A is still balanced on a knife-edge. Sea Point Swifts (Hope FC) is still leading the pack with a two-point buffer over Hanover Park FC, with one game remaining.
Swifts hosts Rangers on Tuesday evening and maximum points will certainly secure the stream and a place in the WC final where Diadora awaits, while Hanover Park FC hosts Cape Town Spurs in a must-win encounter (19:30) at the Downberg Road Sport Complex on Tuesday evening.
Abrahams was quick to point out that he has no real preference on who wins Stream A and whom he faces in the final, but added that because Diadora hails from Hanover Park, he has a soft spot for clubs in the area.
“Look, it would be great for the people and area of Hanover Park if there is another team in the final. So, that in itself will be a good thing for football and the community in the area, as that is what it needs, you know..
“But for me as a coach, whichever team makes it to the final, we’ll take it because we can’t hide from it. The people in football say we were in the easy stream and therefore we’ll gladly be the underdogs, he jokingly added.
The former Santos pro player has also voiced his disappointment after confirmation from the Safa WC that the playoffs, which were last held in the Western Cape in 2019, will not be hosted locally due to a lack of finances.
Abrahams explained: “That was a sucker punch hey, as we obviously looked forward to the playoffs being here in Cape Town as that is also what motivated us, you know, My message to the players – before we heard it was not going to be held in Cape Town was to grab it with both hands as that the opportunity will not come again anytime soon,” Abrahams concluded.
Diadora hosts Nanini Na All Stars at their Greens home venue on Wednesday.
