Lions keen to turn new leaf

The Highveld Lions did well to push the distraction of a match-fixing investigation involving a number of their players far from their minds for a large chunk of last season.

With the new season fast approaching, the franchise will wipe the slate clean and start fresh with their first fixture lined up in the annual Momentum eKasi Challenge on September 7.

This year’s renewal, which sees the Titans and Lions renew their fierce rivalry, will take place at the Soweto Oval.

“In terms of our depth and squad I don’t think it has affected us. It’s a closed chapter for us even though it is quite disappointing that it happened and that our players were involved,” Lions coach Geoff Toyana (above) said at the launch of the event yesterday.

The trio of Thami Tsolekile, Jean Symes and Pumelela Matshikwe all received lengthy bans as part of their involvement following an investigation in last season’s Ram Slam T20 competition by Cricket South Africa.

If the Lions are going to hold onto memories, it will be those involving all three of their victories in each of the times that the battle for the eKasi Challenge trophy has been played.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s been a tough period for the boys in the off-season and we’re happy that it is getting closer.

“It’s a season-opener and our guys come through and take this game very seriously. It’s a derby, it will never be a friendly and we’ll try and go there and be competitive and hopefully give a few of our younger players an opportunity to showcase their skills and just have a look at them under pressure,” Toyana, whose side lifted the One-day Cup last season, said of the occasion.

There was equal enthusiasm from the Titans camp, personnel from the two sides exchanged light-hearted verbal barbs yesterday, with captain Henry Davids stating that the side had also enjoyed a fruitful pre-season.