Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Zeca hopes to surprise a few people as he renews top-flight ambitions
THE National First Division campaign kicks off this weekend – and the five Cape clubs are as determined as ever to win promotion to the elite Premier Soccer League.
The new season ushers in new faces and challenges at FC Cape Town, Santos, Cape Town All Stars, Vasco da Gama and Milano United, but the desire and desperation for top-flight football remains the same.
Four of the five clubs have a new coach, except for Tony de Nobrega at Vasco.
Boebie Solomons is now at the helm of Milano, Zeca Marques has taken charge at perennial under- achievers Santos, Dan Malesela at All Stars and Dutchman Pieter de Jongh gets his first taste of South African football with FC Cape Town.
Today, Milano start in Limpopo, where they take on Black Leopards, FC Cape Town host African Warriors in Parow, while All Stars take on Moroka Swallows – relegated from the PSL last season – in Athlone.
Then, tomorrow, it’s the turn of Santos, who host Baroka FC in Athlone, while Vasco are on the road in East London to take on newly-promoted Mthatha Bucks.
Santos have struggled to get back in the groove since their relegation from the PSL a few seasons ago. But in Marques, the People’s Team believe they may have the coach to get them back to where they belong.
“I’m happy with the quality in the squad,” said Marques, a former Swallows and Leopards coach. “There are certainly solutions to be found within the club, and I think we can put a nice team together with the players already in the system. We want to win the league, that is our main objective.
“My philosophy is about possession, intensity, and aggression, while also trying to score goals and playing entertaining football. Creating a vision is important, with the right team dynamics and the right chemistry. If we get that right, then we could end up surprising a few people this season.”
Over at Milano, Solomons’ vision is already taking shape, with the club’s new skipper Nasief Morris outlining the prospects for the season.
Morris, a former Bafana Bafana defender, has taken over the armband after last season’s captain, Nazier Jacobs, signed for Polokwane City.
“Pre-season was tough, but very good. We had a lot of time to work on everything, especially getting our fitness level much higher,” Morris said.
“The coach focused on every aspect of the game, starting with fitness. He loves to say that it is the foundation of everything, and then it’s on to defensive structure and buildup, and attack.
“I like that there’s a lot of competition for positions in the team because it raises everyone’s game and it gives the coach (selection) headaches.
“We have done all our preparations, especially for the game against Leopards. I can’t predict anything, but what I am confident about is that we are going there to give our all in order to get the best possible result.”