Cinderella club Bay United will be hoping their fairy tale start to life in the Premier Soccer League continues when they meet giants Mamelodi Sundowns in the first round of the Telkom Knockout at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Saturday night.
But Bay United coach Vladislav Heric who guided the Port Elizabeth based club into the promised land of the PSL after successfully winning the promotion is not getting carried away.
The Serbian born coach knows there is a lot of work ahead. For most clubs – four points from a win and a draw from four Premiership games played so far would not get anyone too excited but it was Bay’s win – a 2-0 drubbing at home over glamour side Orlando Pirates last month that has got everyone talking. After winning promotion most pundits expected Bay United to go straight back to the First Division.
When asked if he thought his charges could beat the out of sorts Brazilians who have lost their last two league and cup matches Heric was philosophical.
He said: “If we stick to the game plan and tactics then sure we can beat Sundowns. But I am not making any predictions.”
Sundowns are not at their best but playing at home they are determined to erase the 4-2 league defeat that Golden Arrows inflicted on them at the Super Stadium recently, and observed Heric: “Sundowns are a sleeping lion and we have to be careful.”
Despite the huge boost of beating the once mighty Buccaneers for their first time in the club’s history Heric stated: “That win over Pirates is history. Sundowns are a totally different side. They have different quality players and that means we need to change our approach. We will have to adapt to what will be a different type of game.
“We are also playing away and that will be more difficult. But this is a cup game and in the cup anything can happen. We will be positive.” But what the win over Pirates has done for Bay United’s first season in the top flight is boost the team spirit.
Said Heric: “The spirit in the team is good. It always has been. It is one of the team’s strengths. But equally the team works hard and the players are committed.”
Heric has in skipper Duran Francis an experienced central defender who is cool under pressure and who leads by example. Francis, who was born in Port Elizabeth, has played at the highest level for Cape Town PSL clubs Santos, Ajax Cape Town and defunct Seven Stars.
Francis is backed up by two veteran former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana stalwarts in Cyril Nzama and Patrick Mayo who was also born in PE and like Nzama and Francis are in the twilight of their careers but the experience and knowledge they bring to the new kids on the PSL block are invaluable as they find their feet in the big league.
Malawian international striker Jimmy Zakazaka also adds his experience as does Zambian striker Lenos Chalwe. The two strikers plus midfielders Siyabulela Songwiqi, Luntu Mazana and another Ajax veteran Gareth Ncaca add steel and punch to the midfield.
