Santos expected that Safa Western Cape would manipulate and exploit their power following their reinstatement in the league, and the latter did not disappoint.
Firstly, Santos’ Nedbank Cup games two weeks ago were moved 400 km from their Thornton home venue to Mossel Bay, with a short time frame between them.
Subsequently, Santos’ outstanding games are now being scheduled in the evening, and their venue does not have lights to accommodate evening games, which means they will again have to play away from their venue – as is the case with their first home game, a derby against Cape Town Spurs at the William Herbert Sports Complex on Wednesday evening.
Needless to say, few would have imagined that these two former giants, Santos and Spurs, would have fallen so spectacularly from grace and now compete in the amateur ranks.
Coach Bradley August is of the opinion that these administrative issues are out of his hands and he controls what he can.
August stated that he is more elated with the clean sheet than his team’s impressive 2-0 victory over one of the potential title contenders in Stream A, Vasco da Gama, at Parow Park on Saturday afternoon.
August also has the experienced and reliable shot sopper Stanton Weir (pictured), to thank for their clean sheet with a fantastic left-handed penalty save in the first half to deny Luciano Johnson the opening goal of the match.
Santos was subsequently awarded a penalty converted by Suhayl Allie and a second from Jaydan Appollis got Santos’ campaign – following their reinstatement back into the league recently – off to a winning start – and that away from home against a formidable and well-oiled side coached by a seasoned campaigner in Andrew Pequeno, is no mean feat for sure!
“The clean sheet is massive, it’s massive,” August explained to No Bones with Jones. “It gives you an extra ‘point’, you know. I’m very happy. In fact. I’m happier with the clean sheet and what I instructed the players. A clean sheet gives you a boost and it gives you belief, especially going to a place like that (Parow Park).
“We were under the pump for a while and we had to endure a lot of pressure, you know. So, given that, a clean sheet for us was massive,” August concluded.
After just one game played, Santos has now leapfrogged Ikapa Sporting and Junction Rovers (both on three points), who have played five and six games respectively in the proverbial ‘Stream of Death.
