Santos look to make early statement

ONCE the pride of the Mother City, Santos are struggling in their quest to return to the PSL. Relegated from the PSL in 2012, four years of anonymity doesn’t sit too well with the Lansdowne-based NFD club.

As a result, with the NFD season kicking off today, Santos are determined to make an early statement. They take on Mbombela United at Parow Park at 3pm and, with coach Zeca Marques confident that he has a stronger squad than last season, nothing less than victory will suffice.

Santos, who have relied on youth over the last few years, have brought in some experience to stabilise things for the tough campaign ahead.

Added to the squad are Ashley Hartog, who has played for SuperSport United and Maritzburg United in the PSL, former Polokwane City goalkeeper Dino Visser and a quartet of foreign players – Gambians Emil Sambo and Alhagie Bah and Ghanaians Abdul Yusif and Biney Koomson.

Two other Cape sides are also in action today, with Cape Town All Stars away to the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch FC (formerly Vasco da Gama) are hosted by Mthatha Bucks.

All Stars have completely re-built their squad, bringing in a raft of new players, including Olwethu Nguye and Justin Jacobus on loan from Ajax Cape Town, as well as Paseka Sekese, Abednego Mosiatlhaga, Tawfeeq Salie, Andisiwe Mtsila, Menzi Hlope, Lesvin Stoffels, Waseem Isaacs, Lionel Saal, Bongani Fakude, Eden Nene, Tumi Ngwepe, Sibusiso Phiri, Siboniso Ngcobo and Nceba April.

For Stellenbosch FC, the arrival of striker Zaid Patel, who has played for Wits, All Stars and AmaZulu, is a great addition.

The other two Cape clubs are in action tomorrow when Milano United host Witbank Spurs at the Boland Rugby Stadium, while FC Cape Town are away to Jomo Cosmos. NFD fixtures Today: University of Pretoria v Cape Town All Stars; Santos v Mbombela United (Parow Park, 3pm); Royal Eagles v Real Kings FC; Magesi FC v Thanda Royal Zulu; Mthatha Bucks v Stellenbosch FC Tomorrow: Jomo Cosmos v FC Cape Town; AmaZulu v Black Leopards; Milano United v Witbank Spurs (Boland Rugby Stadium, 3pm)