Wits actually looking like champions again, says Keene
IF there’s any player in the PSL whose contribution is immense when fit, it’s James Keene, and it is no coincidence that Wits are slowly showing signs of being themselves again just as the striker returns to the starting line-up.
When Keene has been in the first eleven this season, the Englishman has scored seven goals in eight starts.
“I have been fit all season,” the forward, speaking ahead of the Clever Boys’ opening Nedbank Cup clash against Cape Town City tonight, said.
“I have been fit and wanting to play, never really injured. I am getting older and my knee does give me problems now and again, but it’s not something that gets in my way.”
That revelation will lead to more questions about why coach Gavin Hunt used Keene sparingly in the first half of the campaign when Wits, the reigning league champions, were struggling and dropped into the relegation zone.
“We are actually looking like champions again. I think we were better than Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday (in the 1-1 draw). The results are coming our way now, but it’s hard work and there’s a good positive attitude,” said Keene, trying not to take too much credit.
“We know we have the quality. You look around the bench and you can see it. We just need to build from there to get the confidence levels up.”
He hopes they can finally beat Benni McCarthy’s City having faced them three times already this season – losing to them in the opening game of the PSL and coming up short over two legs in the MTN8 semi-finals.
“When things go bad it’s easy to get into your own mind. We can’t score and we can’t defend. Those are the words that creep in and you start to dig a little hole in the team. It happens when things go wrong. But we have enough quality and experience,” Keene explained.
The striker added that he would like to see Wits build on their current good form in the league to guarantee safety from relegation and to perhaps take aim at making the top eight.
Hunt’s men are still languishing in 14th place, just two spots above bottom side Platinum Stars, who look worse for wear and have managed just three wins from 20 games. To put Wits’ poor start to the season in context, they have only won two more matches than Stars in the same number of outings.
“Everyone wants to win trophies and we are no different,” Keene said.
“It would have been nice to carry on in the league. We also have the Caf Champions League this weekend as well. We have found the balance now and a settled team, with everyone knowing what is expected.”