The former ABC Motsepe League champion and powerhouse Zizwe United need not be reminded that they are a mere shadow of themselves this campaign.
This is down to obvious reasons: the Nyanga-based outfit had lost several key players before the season due to the uncertainty the club experienced with the possible sale of its status.
With no serious buyers for their Motsepe status, manager Mike Sikheke and his technical committee were left to scramble a team together at the 11th hour just to honour their fixtures in the Second Division this season.
After a slow and nervy start, Zizwe’s young guns such as 18-year-old right winger Ayabonga Twesi, Odwa Ntete (19) and the 22-year-old midfielder Sandile Nomjila (pictured) are starting to show promise and enterprise rewarding their management with some great and unexpected results.
None more so than when they humbled their more influential opponents, Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town (Clarewood) by 4-2 at the Nyanga base on Saturday.
Siheke will remind their rivals that this was no fluke as they’ve conquered the more fancied opponents Cape Town Spurs by 4-3 at the end of last year.
Then they also drew with Grassy Park to ensure that their unbeaten record at home remains intact. Siheke emphasized that this goes to show that money is not everything.
“Our youngsters are so motivated to play at home, in front of our massive home crowd and the environment that they are so used to. I think they feel freer to express themselves and therefore we are seeing the best of them and they play with heart,” Siheke explained to No Bones with Jones.
Despite their seventh position on the log in Stream B, Zizwe is certainly holding their own but will unfortunately not be amongst the challengers this season.
Siheke does not doubt that his young guns can still cause havoc and have a say at the business end of the season.
“But our main objective is to deal with one game at a time and maintain our franchise and that remains our primary focus, you know.”
Zizwe welcome the relegation-threatened Batalions FC (Inter Africa) next to fortress Nyanga home ground and are expected to put coach Theo Hemp’s winless outfit to the sword.
Then Siheke and his troops are also waiting on Safa Western Cape to give their verdict on the match against Oriented Birds which was abandoned last week due to a power problem at the stadium and surrounding areas.
