‘Vila’ sets sights of golden boot

The 29-year-old was once at the top of South Africa football in 2014 while still in the colours of Bidvest Wits where he was crowed the Footballer of the Season. In his fourth season with Masandawana, he is planning to return to his best and challenge for the Lesley Manyathela golden boot.

“Once you are fit and everything starts rolling and you are able to start putting yourself in that position of helping the team. Once the team does well, certain individuals will start will to do be doing well in terms of scoring goals and assists,” said Vilakazi.

The Bafana Bafana international played just 12 league games last season and scored two goals as he spent most of his time nursing a ruptured Achilles tendon, he says he was not disappointed by his return of goals.

“I don’t feel like I have let myself down. I feel like I have been able to go through situations with a positive attitude and I have been able to overcome them. Given the opportunity and given that space to show my qualities, I have been able to do that. It’s been like more of a stop and go and then how do you respond after that stop.”

Meanwhile, Downs are in Congo Brazzaville where they will face Otoho d’Oyo in the Caf Champions League preliminary first-leg this Sunday, and “Vila” insists that they have got enough intelligence on their opponents. The Downs marksman’s linked d’Oyo to Nigerian side Lobi Stars and AS Vita of the DRC.

“Were able to go through their mini videos to see how they play and we tried to get better in terms of defending because of how good they look when they attack and in terms of they defend. Those are the elements that we looked at. We can’t get it 100% but we can only try and manage them,” he said.

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