Junction Rovers head coach Chrissando de Weber has fired the first ‘shots’ to his ABC Motsepe League Second Division rivals ahead of the 2025/’26 campaign.
“Write us off at your own peril,” De Weber warned after being drawn in the proverbial “Stream of Death,” where they will have to navigate a way past former champions like Zizwe United, FN Rangers and Young Bafana, amongst others.
“We will use it as extra motivation to bring out the best in our players. We are aware we don’t have big-name players or marquee signings, but what we have is heart, and no one can take that away from us. People always write us off and make assumptions that Junction will be favourites to be relegated, but we are still competing in this league, and I must admit it’s a very tough mission,” he added.
De Weber, who’ll lead Junction into battle for a third season in the Second Division with the help of his lieutenants Riedewaan Isaacs, Allistair Cupido, Ashraf Maart and Enver Solomons, has defied the odds and turned the side into a competitive unit and a tough nut to crack – especially at their home ground in Heideveld, which they refer to as the ‘Harry Gwala’ for its partisan crowd and hostility.
It’s no secret that Junction does not have a big wallet to splash cash, hence they will have to box smartly again and have thus identified young up-and-coming talent to bolster their squad.
“You do know, if I tell you the names, then the people will start grabbing them, so, yah, ” De Weber jokingly stated.
“Like I always say, we’re just making space for the next group of players to come on board so that they can prove themselves in this league. So, we are always looking for players who are hungry, determined and not looking for money. You know we don’t have money or pay players. We want to give them the platform to make a name for themselves and that’s why we are here and I’m also here to help reach their goals and dreams,” he explained.
According to De Weber, they will use the Nedbank Cup as part of their preparation for the season, but have been given a bye in their preliminary round. They will face the winner of Maties FC and the new kid on the block, Hope FC, in the next round of this cup competition.
“Look, we will definitely try and go as far as we can in this competition,” De Webs further added. “But if not. We will have to prepare well for the league as every league game will be like a cup final for us,” the Junction mentor concluded.
