Ke Yona Team dare SuperSport to bring it on

The Nedbank Ke Yona Team has dared the Nedbank Cup two-time champions in a row, SuperSport United to bring it on.

The two teams are set to clash in what has become a tradition of the Nedbank Cup with amateur footballers being selected annually in a countrywide talent search, and groomed and polished by select coaches to face the champions of the cup.

This year’s David versus Goliath clash, as this annual clash has traditionally come to be known, will take place on 2 September at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa, and both teams have indicated their readiness for the game.

“The boys are ready and itching for the encounter. They’re hungry for success and waiting to slaughter SuperSport United,” said Ke Yona Team skipper Kamogelo ‘Valerie Nehayo’ Mogotlane (21), who plays left centre back and hails from Sunnyside, the Hillbrow of Pretoria.
SuperSport coach Eric Tinkler said although the current crop of players in the Ke Yona Team are an unknown quantity to him, he has played a previous team before while still the coach at Orlando Pirates.

“I am looking forward to repeating the feat and beating the Ke Yona Team twice, now with SuperSport,” said Tinkler, who also seized the opportunity to encourage the Ke Yona players to make the most of their trials in the various Premier Soccer League clubs and strive to secure contracts for themselves.

Head Ke Yona selector and coach, and former Bafana Bafana mentor, Shakes Mashaba, said they had tweaked their selection criteria for the better in an effort to unearth offensive players that will be able to go into battle and emerge victoriously.

“I am confident with the calibre of players we have this time around, we can once and for all make the point loud and clear that we’re in it to win it,” said Mashaba. “We have been slowly building towards this goal and this time our efforts will bear fruit.”

Mashaba’s words were echoed by fellow selector and coach Owen Da Gama, who said they had over the years ‘wisened and grown’, saying come Sunday ‘we shall be singing a different tune, a winning song. Ke nako [now is the time]’.

Da Gama, who was seated close to Tinkler at the launch, said he was sweating while sitting next to him. “He’s one of the hottest coaches in the country but we’re up to the challenge,” said ODG, as Da Gama has come to be known after the initials of his name.

Read: Ke Yona team ready for SuperSport United

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