It would be a blessing and a bonus

The story of Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila is one that will probably be told for a long time. From being bought, to being sold halfway into their first season in the topflight, to then making the Nedbank Cup, it’s a classic rollercoaster story. Despite the difficult season they’ve had, the team has the opportunity to not only survive relegation, but get their hands on a major title in South African

Tshepang Mailwane: Miguel, looking at the season Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC has had, did you expect to be in the Nedbank Cup final?

Miguel Timm:

Honestly, no. I think we’ve faced big problems throughout the season to be worried about the Nedbank Cup, because at the end of the day, the Nedbank Cup does not save your top-flight status. In order of importance, it was not top of the list.

TM: So, seeing how difficult things have been, how did you guys manage to get to the final?

MT:

Honestly speaking, it’s because of not worrying about it so much. We just went out there and we played. Obviously now we will put more energy and focus into it because it’s one more game. The games before that, it was obviously (to) progress through each round, but we also felt that it would not have been the end of the world if we had been knocked out. But we are here in the final and we will give it a full go.

TM: But has your run in the cup inspired you guys to perform well in the league?

MT:

Yes, true. That’s an extra game that’s sometimes not really on the calendar, so it gives us momentum going into a league game after a cup game. That does have a positive impact when you look at some of the positive results we’ve had.

TM: What has been key to the team’s impressive run in the Nedbank Cup?

MT:

I think it’s going out there and playing with no fear. We all know that penalties are a gamble, but we are fortunate enough to have Washington (Arubi), who everyone has seen is good at (saving) penalty kicks. So yeah, just that bit of luck and taking the game to the end against (Mamelodi) Sundowns also helped us a bit because we obviously had more legs than they did and then go for the gamble, knowing that Washington has the ability to save a few penalties. football. Their road to the final has not been an easy one, having booted out, among others, the well-respected Tshwane duo of SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns, hence they go into their biggest game yet as favourites. In this mini-interview, Vhadau Vha Damani midfielder Miguel Timm talks about reaching the final and what has been key to their impressive run in the competition. semi-finals, do you go into the final believing you are favourites?

MT: I think everyone is going to say that, but I personally don’t think so. A final is anyone’s game. It’s 50-50. It’s about who is better on the day and who is more prepared and who is calmer and eager to win the game. But we are obviously going to be looked at as favourites because of the fixtures we had leading to the final.

TM: What type of final are you expecting? MT:

I think it’s going to be an exciting final. Both teams are fighting at the bottom in the league and it’s something else to put our focus into. It’s a different ball game, so I think everyone is going to go out there and enjoy themselves. I think it’s going to be an open game. I hope it will be an exciting one because no one wants a boring final. We are looking forward to it.

TM: How much pressure do you think there is on both teams to deliver an entertaining final and make it one to remember?

MT:

I’ll speak on behalf of TTM. I think we have enough experience in the team, knowing that the whole country will be watching. We have players who have been in finals before, so there should not be any nerves. I’ve been with the guys for almost a year now and I feel comfortable and excited knowing that we are going to put on a good show.

TM: How would you describe the season Vhadau Vha Damani has had?

MT:

It’s been a rollercoaster. More tough days than good days, but here we are, we are still standing. We continue to fight and, at the end of the day, we are a group of innocent players who came to the club and we found ourselves in a messed-up situation.

TM: So, what has kept you guys fighting despite all the challenges?

MT:

I think we’ve grown as a team and we’ve become close because of the experiences we’ve had together, because we have all been through this together. As much as it’s been negative, it has brought us close together and as brothers. The brotherhood we have, because of all the negativity that has been happening, is special. It’s easier to fight for one another on the pitch.

TM: What does a dark day at TTM look like, where maybe things are not going well?

MT:

To be honest, most of those dark days have passed, but I will tell you about earlier in the season and give you insight. We obviously have a group chat as players. For example, payday will come and half of your friends have not been paid. This is your brother and teammate at the end of the day, so do you put your boots on and go and train like nothing has happened? Or do you stand for your brother and drop your tools so that you can stand beside him and fight with the management to say that certain things happening are not right? More often than not, we stood together, and we won our cases as teammates. At the end of the day, we need each other. Obviously, management are not soccer players and they need us to perform to the best of our abilities and, individually, we need our brothers on the field, side-by-side. So, there is no way you can easily beat a group of players who are standing together. That’s how we came through those tough situations.

TM: How important was it that new management came in during the middle of the season?

MT:

For sure. It’s the same as when you bring in a new coach. There’s a new lease on life or a breath of fresh air for a lot of us. The previous owners left some stuff that weren’t completed for certain individuals and the new ownership took on the responsibility to sort those things out. We are not in the media much for the wrong reasons anymore.

TM: After all the team has been through this season, what would it mean to survive and win the cup?

MT: In that order. I was not going to say the Nedbank Cup first. We are not looking to be in a situation where we win the cup and still get relegated. Our first priority is to maintain the status and it would be a blessing and a bonus to win the cup, knowing that we re

been as ed ooton the semiat e for d ina caretaker basis. In came Luc Eymael as technical advisor, but he was on a flight back to Brussels long before the ink could dry on the paper on which his contract was signed, due to his alleged racist remarks while on a gig in Tanzania. And so Serbian Vladislav Heric filled that vacancy, but he came out to say he is, in fact, the head coach! All this drama has, of course, has kept members of the Fourth Estate busy, but it’s what happens on Saturday that will be most important. We caught up with Chippa right back Nyiko Mobbie… rd to fighting for him, like we ch Dan.

t has Heric brought to the will his experience count the final?

ll help us a lot, because when e once promoted Chippa to opflight). He is a good coach, nds a lot from the players. He nts us to do well as players ands energy from everyone, s at training or on matchday. ts everyone, whether or not aying. It helps us not to pregoing to play, those kinds of know. That means everyone e ready, so it makes us work eam.

do you think are the favours one?

n’t really say who are (the) . That one is difficult for e not many people expected d TTM to go to the final. It also when I was at Free State played Maritzburg (United) bank Cup final and people ing that it would be (Mamdowns and (Kaizer) Chiefs in o, it’s football. You can’t say g to reach the final, you can’t going to win it. Anyone can

n you won the Nedbank Cup a Koto, what was key for you ?

nk at that time, we defended throughout the 90 minutes. an easy game, but we dell. If you can remember, we goal and then we defended. w what’s going to happen in but we need to defend well

TM: Do you think your experience of having won this competition will come in handy on Saturday?

NM:

It’s not only me. We have experienced players in the team, like Anthony Laffor and Oupa Manyisa. They have won this cup before, so it will help us in terms of how we need to do things in the final. They are here to help us because they have the experience. They have been in a lot of finals, so they know exactly what we need to do to win it. They are helping us in the league as well. They are important to the team. It’s good to have them in the team. We listen to them and we respect them, and we fight together with them so that we can do good things for this club. We appreciate their presence.

TM: What do you think about TTM? NM:

They are a good team. They are playing good football and you can see that they are fighting to survive (in the league). That’s why I was saying it’s not going to be an easy game, but we are going to give our best.

TM: Is there pressure on both teams to deliver an entertaining final, considering South African fans usually expect the big teams to reach the final?

NM:

Yes, we have to (deliver an entertaining final). We have to give our best, both teams. We are going to fight because it’s a final. It’s one game and we need to deliver. I think people will enjoy the match.

TM: What would it mean for you and the club to survive relegation and also end the campaign with a trophy in the cabinet?

NM:

That would be something I would never forget in my career. It will also be special for the team. We are looking for