Stars eye league honours
P E STARS’ prolific striker, Vernan Campher, thinks they have what it takes to win the league as they prepare to take on Bizana Pondo Chiefs at the Mqeshwa Sports Field in Bizana this afternoon.
Stars have had an impressive run in the 2017/18 ABC Motsepe League season and are sitting in second spot on the log standings with 28 points.
Newcomers, Chiefs, have also done well, sitting at number seven on the log with 20 points.
Campher, who has scored five goals in the league, said the team was in high spirits but, since the draw against E C Bees (1-1) this past weekend, coach Velile Dyaloyi had pushed things up a notch.
“This week it’s been tough at training. All the guys have been pushing hard and everyone is focused on getting the three points away from home today.
“As we are playing in Bizana we travel a day before, and that helps us to rest well before the game.
“But hey, last week... the Bees really came at us, especially in the second half, and luckily we got a penalty and we led one nil.”
The 22-year-old striker said they wanted to avoid abandoning their game plan during the course of the game against Chiefs, because that’s what cost them in the game against the “Crazy Gang”.
“We didn’t follow the game plan and that caused problems for us, because everyone started going forward wanting to win the game, but our plan was to play short passes and then make them long.
“The aim was to catch Bees on the counterattack, but then our plan fell apart with everyone doing their own thing.”
Campher said working with Dyaloyi was a breath of fresh air as the former Mthatha Bucks mentor understands his style of play.
“With the previous coach I was down and I missed a lot of chances, but with coach Veza I’m experiencing something different. The communication and understanding is much better now.
“I even think we can reach the playoffs because we are nine points [behind Tornado] and it’s not over until the fat lady says so.
“Somehow Tornado will get a knock and we still have a lot of games to play, but we are taking it one game at a time.”
He said they expected a stubborn Chiefs, especially at their home ground, but they would go there to impose their game on the hosts and hopefully return home with the three points.
“During this game we are following our game plan no matter what, because the coach told us that was our downfall last week.
“That field is not easy for us to play on. It’s bad. Even when we came here beginning of the season we drew against Chiefs 1-1.
“It’s going to be a tough game but we are well prepared for it.”
Other fixtures: City Lads v Butterworth at Mount Ayliff Stadium, E C Bees v Try Again at Bhisho Stadium, F C Buffalo v Tornado at Jan Smuts Stadium, Future Tigers v Swartkops Valley United Brothers at Ginsberg Stadium, Highbury v Mthatha City at NMMU 2nd Avenue, Lion City v Sibanye at NU 2 Stadium in Motherwell, Spears v Matta Milan at Mqeshwa Sport Field.