Ammar Soccer Academy head coach Jayrod Visagie has delivered a brutally honest assessment ahead of his side’s Nedbank Cup tie against Grassy Park United at Mbekweni Stadium in Paarl on Tuesday.
According to Visagie, he is not overly concerned with the romance often associated with the famous David versus Goliath cup competition, insisting that Ammar’s primary focus remains the ABC Motsepe League.
“Yes, that’s our priority,” Visagie vehemently stated to No Bones with Jones.
Visagie, who alongside fellow coach Malunga Siyaka, led Ammar to an impressive second-place finish in Stream B last season, explained his outlook ahead of the cup tie.
“If I can be brutally honest, I’m not really fazed by this competition as it’s just extra matches to be played,” Visagie admitted.
Meanwhile, Visagie is well aware of the challenge awaiting his side, particularly with Grassy Park United being guided by Nedbank Cup specialist Andrew Pequeno, who won the competition in back-to-back seasons with Vasco da Gama.
Pequeno, however, insists he never set out to become a cup specialist.
“It’s the way the cards have fallen,” Pequeno told the publication.”Winning it the last two years with Vasco was great, but it also comes with consequences that we need to deal with.”
Despite Visagie’s indifferent stance towards the competition, Pequeno has warned against underestimating Ammar.
“Ammar are very tough and a strong contender in our stream,” said Pequeno. “It is our third game at Mbekweni Stadium, and we also play Ammar there in the league on Saturday. Whatever will be, will be. We take each game as it comes.”
Pequeno added that the Nedbank Cup also provides an opportunity to rotate his squad and assess who his strongest startling line-up will be for the season.
“The Nedbank Cup gives us a chance to test some players who have not played enough and also to rest some players for the challenges ahead,” he concluded.
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