Sheppard proving an inspired Wits choice

Dillon Sheppard (below) has hit the ground running since taking over the reins as Bidvest Wits reserves coach with the team at the top of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge table with 15 points in the bag.

Sheppard replaced Glen Salmon, who has joined Orlando Pirates. But the new Wits coach has had no problems, with his side having recorded five wins and one loss in their last six games.

Wits were in great form in the newly expended MDC League going on a five-game winning streak before being brought down to earth by Polokwane City in their last league game, losing 2-1.

They are eager to bounce back to winning ways when they host a struggling Maritzburg United at the Bidvest Stadium tomorrow.

Maritzburg find themselves sitting in 14th spot after the same number of games, having only managed to secure one win, one draw and four losses.

Looking at Maritzburg’s, one should expect Sheppard to be confident of getting a win against the Team of Choice, but the Wits coach doesn’t want to be carried away and believes that at the end of the day, the performance of his charges matter more than the result.

“We are dealing with young players, so the performance will always come first before the result,” Sheppard told SuperSport.

“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done, especially in the final third. We are still a work in progress, we’ve got to find ways of how we can be creative in the final third, create more opportunities that we can bury.”

On Tuesday, the Diski festival heads to Kabokweni Stadium in Mpumalanga with three fixtures on the day. Former champions Mamelodi Sundowns will lock horns with Stellenbosch FC, while Chippa United take on Orlando Pirates before Kaizer Chiefs clash with Cape Town City.