United excited about UJ partnership

One of the directors of Alex United, Nick Nicolaou believes exciting times lie ahead for the team in the coming season of the ABC Motsepe League.

This follows a partnership which has been struck between the Hope City Giants as United are affectionately known, and the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Sport Science Department. This partnership will see United’s players being assessed for their strength and weaknesses, mentally and physically.

Speaking to Alex News, Nicolaou said he was delighted with the partnership which he hoped would take the team’s fight for promotion to a higher level. “I believe exciting times lie ahead for both the club and the players in this partnership,” he said.

“We have for years battled for promotion to the National First Division and in a number of instances, we have lost that battle during the last games of the season. Worse still was when our arch-rivals Highlands Park beat us to the promotional play-offs by a single point after we led the pack for the entire season.”

He said he was confident that the club would make amends this season. “Especially with the involvement of UJ and its Sport Science Department, which has worked wonders for its own varsity football team and more recently, the Golden Lions rugby franchise,” Nicolaou said.

The Golden Lions outfit used to be the whipping boys of rugby until they partnered with UJ and had their players conditioned and assessed. “I am hoping the same happens to us and we can become a well-oiled winning machine and maybe move up the ladder until we reach the prestigious Premier Soccer League and make Alexandra proud,” Nicolaou concluded.