Pule hopes cup win inspires league run

Winger Vincent Pule will put sentiment for his home province aside when Bidvest Wits take on Bloemfontein Celtic in the Telkom Knockout final on Saturday.

Born in Phuthaditjhaba in eastern Free State, Pule will have to battle against the ambition of fellow Free Staters when he meets Celtic at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, Durban (6pm).

The skilful player aims to be a thorn in the side of the Celtic defence should he play in his first final since his arrival at Wits in 2014.

“We owe it to ourselves to win the final,” said Pule.

“They [Celtic] are doing well at the moment and for us it’s different because we are bottom of the table.

“Celtic are a team that can pass the ball around. As soon as we press them and get them in their own half then we can get them.”

Since joining Wits three years ago from African Warriors, the 25-year-old has steadily become a dependable player this season for coach Gavin Hunt.

“The coach believes in me and I am beginning to believe in myself. My confidence is high.

“When I get inside the field I want to give 100% no matter what.”

The two finalists have contrasting fortunes in the Absa Premiership. While Celtic are on the eighth spot, league reigning champions Wits are rock bottom after losing six of their first 11 matches.

The Students hope to ease their pain by winning TKO’s R4.25-million first prize, further hoping that would be the catalyst to turn the corner in their league run.

“When we won the league every team wanted to come to us and put up a bigger fight. In the league at the moment I don’t know what’s happening to us. We will fight until we get out of there,” Pule said.

“Winning the cup would be a great motivation [to change our fortunes] in the league,” concluded the former University of Free State sttudent.