Pule: I knew I’d score
Wits hero makes most of chance
When Vincent Pule grabbed the Telkom Knockout titleclinching goal for Bidvest Wits as a substitute, the explosive winger was just doing something that’s in his nature, which is to make use of every small window of opportunity that falls on his lap.
Pule, 25, was on the pitch for only 16 minutes when his 90th minute strike secured a 1-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.
It was similar to how Pule made the most of his opportunity three years ago when he impressed coach Gavin Hunt while on trial at the club.
He took a leap of faith by packing his bags from home in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, to Joburg in hope of earning a contract with the Students.
“I just told myself that if the coach can just see me play, then I will definitely impress him,” Pule told Sowetan.
“At the time I was focused on my aim to playing my best and I did enough to get signed. It was one of the best moments of my life when Wits offered me a contract. It was emotional for me because I worked so hard.”
The former African Warriors attacker was getting his first taste of playing in a cup final when he pounced on a cross from Amr Gamal moments before the final whistle.
In an otherwise monotonous final encounter that needed a hero, Pule spared the spectators from more torture of extratime and penalties.
“It was an emotional feeling, to be honest. The coach believes in me and for me to be able to get in and score was incredible.”
The focus for Wits now shifts to clawing their way out of the bottom of the PSL table. The R4.25-million cup win was the best incentive.
“I think we needed something like this to turn things around. Being at the bottom is stressful.
“The league is different from the cup because it’s a process.”
Bloemfontein Celtic coach Veselin Jelusic says his team got a taste of their own medicine after a last-minute strike cost them the Telkom Knockout title.
Phunya Sele Sele suffered a 1-0 loss in the cup final against Wits at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.
Winger Vincent Pule grabbed the late winner moments before the final whistle when it appeared the clash would go to extra-time.
Celtic have usually been on the giving end of such results, having snatched late winners against Platinum Stars, Wits (in the league) and Polokwane City. “In the past few games we have scored in the last minutes ... this time it happened against us,” Jelusic said.
However, Jelusic hopes the players will take the loss as an indication that they have the talent to win trophies.
The eighth-placed Celtic will now refocus their energy to their league encounter against AmaZulu at the King Zwelithini Sta- dium on Wednesday (7.30pm).
“We know that AmaZulu is a very strong team. We should try to bring our players back to forget [the loss] as soon as possible and to be focused on the next game,” Jelusic said.