Diadora FC, one of the newcomers in the ABC Motsepe League, has gone quietly about its business in Stream B.
Only Ammaar Soccer Academy from Overberg region is currently ahead of them on a superior goal difference after both collected maximum points from their two matches in what is considered the weaker of the streams, but one that involves lots of travelling up north.
Diadora also did what few sides can muster, and that is to collect maximum points at the Rustdene Stadium following a 2-1 win against FC Hillside over the weekend.
Coach Zain Abrahams pointed out that things are going according to plan as the results have also been in their favour.
“But I can tell these Beaufort-trips, they are not easy, hey,” Abrahams admitted to No Bones with Jones.
“It’s mentally very draining and taxing on the boys. The heat is a killer and the opponents… These guys are playing in this heat as if it were cold. I watched the Ammar game on Saturday and it was 38 degrees and let me tell you, it was boiling.
“Luckily for us, Sunday morning brought some rain and a bit of relief. But it was still hot and humid. So, that is probably the biggest challenge with these away games. And these Beaufort boys’ attitudes… They keep on fighting. They play and fight until the final whistle, you know. But yeah, so far so good,” Abrahams added.
Next up for coach Abrahams and his troops is another debutant in Bayhill United (Relentless FC), who were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Grassy Park United over the weekend.
Even though Diadora has a much shorter trip to Mitchells Plain this coming weekend, Abrahams thinks that it will still be another challenge they will have to overcome.
“We are again away from home and this will be another challenge,” he conceded.
“Another factor is that we are playing on a grass pitch and this is not in our comfort zone as we are more accustomed to the astroturf as we train and play our matches on an astroturf.
“So, it’s obviously going to be a big challenge and the opponents will not be easy. But I know that our boys are up for the challenge and we are going there for three points. What I’ve learnt from this stream is that you have to be mentally strong and that is something we are working on a lot, you know,” Abrahams concluded.
