Nedbank Ke Yona Team promises to re-write history of the challenge
JOBURG – The Nedbank Ke Yona Team is ready for the Nedbank Ke Yona Challenge on Sunday against TS Galaxy.
The Nedbank Ke Yona Team of 2019 is itching to take to the field come 8 September in the hope of springing a surprise and becoming the first Ke Yona side to bag the annual Nedbank Ke Yona Challenge trophy.
The Ke Yona will play Nedbank Cup holders TS Galaxy.
The 7th edition of the Ke Yona Challenge will be played in the stronghold of Galaxy, KwaNdebele in Limpopo at the Kameelrivier Stadium. Galaxy themselves made history when they became the first GladAfrica Championship side to win the Nedbank Cup after beating the former Mzansi cup kings, Kaizer Chiefs to annex the trophy.
Their triumph paved yet another first as Galaxy became South Africa’s first team from the lower rung of Premiership football to represent the country and campaign for African continental glory in the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Confederation Cup.
Galaxy has already played its first preliminary qualification match in the Caf Cup and won both its away and home matches against Seychelles team, Saint Louis Suns United FC, both of which Galaxy won 1–0. This alone is an indication that Galaxy will be no pushovers in the Nedbank Ke Yona Challenge on Sunday.
But be that as it may, be, head coach of the Ke Yona team Khabo Zondo believes his team can win. “The team is getting better and better each year and I am quite confident we can spring a surprise and silence many people.
“I am saying this based on the quality of players we have assembled this time around and the hunger for goals that has been displayed in friendlies that we have played so far in the lead up to the challenge,” Zondo said at a press conference at the Nedbank headquarters on Rivonia Road, Sandton, to announce the 18-member Ke Yona team.
His assistants, Doctor Khumalo, and Jerry Skhosana are equally confident about the chances of their prodigies. “I know they’re up against the most talented players at Galaxy, who not only play exciting football but are highly mobile on the field and this happens for the entire 90 minutes,” said Skhosana, who was known as ‘Legs of Thunder’ during his heydays at Orlando Pirates and was part of the Class of 95 that was the first South African club to win the Caf Champions League.
Khumalo said even if the boys were defeated on the day, he was quite sure they would go down fighting. “We’re not going to be lambs to the slaughter on the day. We’re going to put up a brave fight, and who knows, maybe we can also write history and become the first Ke Yona team to win the challenge.”
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