No giving up for EP Kings
Skipper determined ahead of Sharks clash
DOGGED EP Kings skipper Albe de Swardt says his team are planning to end the season on a high when they face the high-flying Sharks in a Vodacom Cup match at Kings Park today.
“This is our last game in the tournament so we must grab this chance to win back the respect of our supporters, coaches and the union,” a determined De Swardt said.
It promises to be a tough encounter as the Kings are facing an unbeaten Sharks team who are the runaway leaders on the South Section Vodacom Cup log.
After slumping to three alarming defeats, the Kings finally got back on the winning track with a 28-21 victory over a feisty Boland Cavaliers in their last game and De Swardt is hoping this win will spark a late revival.
Cool-headed flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa will have a key role to play for the Kings with his accurate kicking boot.
Needing to finish among the top four sides to qualify, the Kings are languishing in fifth place and unable to make the play-offs even if they spring a surprise and best the Sharks.
After six matches the South Section log reads: Sharks (27), Western Province (23), Eagles (21), Free State 15 (21), EP Kings (11), Tusker Simba 15 (7), Boland (6), Border Bulldogs (5).
“We had a hard start to the season and we struggled at the beginning. It is sad to think that if we had stuck to our game plans given to us by coaches Mzwandile Stick and Barend Pieterse we could have been competitive if we had believed in ourselves," De Swardt said.
“In the game we lost against the Eagles we started believing in ourselves. We had the upper hand, but could not finish off and we let that one slip through our fingers. I think the guys have learnt a lot of lessons this season. You have to get out of the starting blocks early and you cannot wait for things to happen,” the EP skipper said.
For the last game of the season Stefan Willemse moves from openside flank to lock, to stand in for Louis Fourie who is out following a fractured cheekbone sustained during the Boland game. In another switch, Siphesihle Punguzwa moves from the bench to openside flank.
Sergeal Petersen, who has been named as part of the 28-man strong Junior Springbok squad, replaces Ofentse Boloko on left wing, and Malcolm Jaer will line up at fullback in place of Coyi Banda.
Head coach Stick said the win over Boland had been a great morale-booster for the team.
“I want them to know that they can play at this level. They will be playing against a team that has already qualified for the quarterfinals and it will be a tough game,” he said. The Kings team is: Lizo Gqoboka, Albe de Swardt (capt), Pieter Stemmet, Stefan Willemse, Cameron Lindsay, Thembelani Bholi, Siphesihle Punguzwa, Aidon Davis, Dwayne Kelly, Ntabeni Dukisa, Sergeal Petersen, Andile Jho, Michael Bernardt, Eben Barnard, Malcolm Jaer. Replacements: Dane van der Westhuyzen, Simon Kerrod, Tyler Paul, Ivan-John du Preez, Kayle van Zyl, Morne Hugo, Brian Skosana.