Chrissando de Weber’s Junction Rovers is losing players left, right and center – much to the dismay and irritation of the newly promoted Second Division club.
No Bones with Jones has been informed that Junction’s talisman-captain, Adeeb “Pro” Triegaardt, has started a mini-exodus and is now training with Shaun Petersen’s (owner) Ikapa United.
Petersen has subsequently appointed the former Bafana Bafana player Rowen Hendricks as the new coach at Ikapa and this will officially be announced in the coming days.
Triegaardt’s teammates Rameez “Heavy K” and Tashwin “Keff'” Nicholson also sought greener pastures at Ikapa. Needless to say, these are three of Junction’s most senior and influential players who played a key role in helping the Heideveld-based outfit to gain promotion last season.
De Weber admitted to No Bones with Jones that it is very sad to lose the trio but this gives other (younger) players an opportunity to come through the ranks.
“Good luck to them. I guess it is better money for them,” said De Weber. “Yes, we lost a couple of players, but we also gained a couple, so, all is not lost. We have to move on, and we are moving on, buddy. No use sulking about players moving and clubs poaching our players.
“That is what happens (in football) and you have to learn to live with it and move on. It is unfortunately the nature of the beast but like I said, all is not lost as we still have our main players on board,” he added.
De Weber stressed that this will not deter them or make them lose sight of their main goal of retaining their status for the first season.
“The last thing we want to be is a yo-yo team where we go up one year and down again the next. Yes, we want to retain our status but at the same time, we want to put up a good show for the people of Heideveld. The fans are hungry for ABC (Motsepe League) soccer. So, I think we have a good enough squad to be competitive.
“That is what we always try to stress to the players. If we did not have a good enough squad, then some teams would not come and poach our players. So, ja, that gives you an indication that the teams know we are a threat and that is why they are doing it. But ja, it is the beast of soccer and the nature of the game.
“What can you do when people show players money? We are moving on and we are confident in our players. I have a lot of youngsters that I am very confident that they will put on a good show.
“The thing is they (youngsters) are hungry to show the people what they can do. And that is what you are going to need – hungry players, dedicated and hardworking players in this league,” De Weber concluded.
