Last season’s Vodacom League runners-up, Phiva Young Stars, are assembling an
even more competitive and stronger team with much better structure than the
previous season. This Nkomazi subregional team, which missed the national
play-offs by an inch, is adamant to play in the National First Division (NFD)
next season.
Speaking exclusively to Mpumalanga News during the team’s
official launch, at which they unveiled their plans, new players and technical
team, the chief executive, Rev Siboza said they had learnt from past experience
and mistakes and were now ready to give it another shot.
“The team played
good football last season and could have topped the table and qualified for the
national play-offs, but we relaxed towards the end and lost out.
“But I want
to assure our supporters and all the people of Nkomazi that we are not going to
repeat these mistakes. We are assembling a much stronger side, which will take
us to the next level and that is the NFD,” said Siboza.
He said they were
retaining the services of their coach, who worked wonders with the team last
season, but they had brought in a new crop of players who were hungry for
success. “The boys are eager, they understand what it means to be promoted to
the NFD and they know that if we are promoted they will be part of the team in
the NFD next season.
So, I can promise you right now, that we are ready to
declare war. We are going to turn our home ground, Driekoppies Stadium, into a
slaughterhouse. We will respect all the teams we play against, but we will not
fear or show them any mercy. Once the boys start scoring, they never stop,”
Siboza referred to their off-season friendly when they trashed another team
campaigning in this stream by 10-0.
He said besides the on-the-pitch workout,
the team will embark on a number of CSI programmes, such as the Zazi campaign,
using the players as role models to promote healthy lifestyles.
“We would
like to appeal to local businesses, including our municipality, because we are
representing the entire Nkomazi community. When we are up there this region will
be noticed and our stadium will be developed together with many other spin-offs.”
The team’s new PRO, Thabo “Manyovu” Mnisi, has also appealed for support from across the whole region.
Stars open their campaign against
Ntebe FC in Mkhuhlu on November 2.
