Vasco’s up-and-down run continues

CONSISTENCY has never been one of Vasco da Gama’s strong suits; the Cape First Division club side has been plagued by this flaw for one too many seasons.

Vasco secured promotion to the PSL in 2010 when they beat Black Leopards 2-1 (aggregate score 3-2) in the NFD promotional play-off in 2010.

But life in the top tier began well for the Parow-based men: they featured quite well in the first round of the league phase and seemed on track to hold down their status.

Then, however, came the collapse in the second round, which saw them finish 15th on the log and force them into the promotion/relegation play-offs, which they failed to navigate, resulting in them returning to the NFD.

Over the past three seasons they’ve found consistency in results hard to come by. Home base Parow Park has long been a feared destination for visiting teams, but these days it is failing to live up to its ominous reputation.

Last weekend Black Leopards paid a visit and handed the home side a 4-1 thrashing, having come into the encounter winless from six attempts. It was a result that Vasco never saw coming. The weekend before they toppled unbeaten cross- city rivals Chippa United 2-0 at the same venue.

So what now, Vasco? Do they have the spirit and will to move on from this latest setback? With tough- as- nails former player Keenin Lesch calling the shots in his debut season as a coach, he will demand from his players nothing less than total commitment.

The chance to swing their fortunes begins today for the seventh-placed side when they travel to take on United FC, a side that will prove no pushover after a decent campaign to date.

Meanwhile, the nightmare continues for FC Cape Town. Winless and in stone-last position, the self- proclaimed “African Beasts” have been anything but a feared foe, losing four of seven outings and drawing the other three. With just three points from a possible 21, Town need something special if they want to move away from the drop zone.

They take on unbeaten city rivals Santos, and new coach Duncan Lechesa has his work cut out for him. He took charge of his first game last weekend and would have been a relieved man after his side scored in added time to earn a draw away to top-eight side Witbank Spurs.

Fourth-placed Santos will eye the derby as a chance to steal all three points, which would bring an end to a run of form that has seen the People’s Team draw five of their last six starts. Santos join Cape rivals and league leaders Milano United as the only two unbeaten sides in the NFD.