Alex United ready for ice-breaker

Alex United players are raring to go and cannot wait for the start of the new season to break the anxiety gripping the team.

The ABC Motsepe League is expected to kick off on Saturday, and United will be up against their Soweto rivals, Soweto Panthers, in the opening game of the league at Balfour Park Stadium.

Central midfielder Gavin Roman Abrahams, said the team was ready to take the Panthers by the scruff of the neck.

“The mood is good in the team and everybody can’t wait any longer for Saturday,” he said.

Abrahams said Saturday’s game will allow them to put all they have learnt and achieved in practise matches and friendlies into action.

“We cannot wait any longer. Come Saturday and we will know our strengths and weaknesses and where we need to improve,” he said.

A team psychologist will visit them after training on Friday for a pep talk before the game, which Abrahams said would go a long way to boosting the already-high morale of the team.

“Panthers are a good side that can easily give us a run for our money, but we are also ready and look forward to take on the game,” he declared.

Hope City Giants’ long-standing left back player, Alzavian ‘Xavi’ van Rheede, said there was a lot of anxiety within the team and Saturday’s game was needed to break that.

“We need that first kick-off whistle, that first goal and that first win to settle the nerves. Taking this team to another level of competition is long overdue and we can’t wait to do just that this season,” he said.

“We owe it to ourselves, the entire team and the people of Alexandra to see this team move… up to another level of competition. Come Saturday we shall begin that journey.”