On AmaZulu FC's Lukewarm Start To The Season
Despite the three 0-0 draws against Royal AM, SuperSport United as well as Richards Bay FC this past weekend, respectively, we are all upbeat and the spirit is still high in the camp. There is a league match against Kaizer Chiefs coming up this weekend and that is what we are focusing on right now. As players, we are all aware of the fact that we have yet to get the first win this season or score our first goal… we know that. But we are not panicking. Goals will come and the win will come too. After the draw against Richards Bay, the coach, Pablo Franco Martin, spoke to us players at training about the importance of winning the match against Chiefs this weekend. This is a massive game for both teams because both teams have yet to win a league match this season. There is a lot at stake. Chiefs will do everything in their power to win this match and as AmaZulu FC, we will also do everything in our power to win as well because we owe this to our loyal fans. As much as we want to win, at the same time we know that we haven't been at our level best in terms of scoring or converting out chances. We have been working hard on goal-scoring drills because that is what we need to improve right now. But the good thing is that no one needs motivation because we are playing against one of the biggest teams in the country.
On The Significance Of Playing Against Chiefs
Throughout my career, I have played a couple of matches against Chiefs and I fully understand the significance of playing against them. My first game against them came in 2017 when I was still playing for Baroka FC. As a small boy growing up in the rural areas of Limpopo and turning professional, there was nothing bigger than taking on Kaizer Chiefs. Leading up to that particular match, as players that is all we talked about all week. I wanted to go out onto the field and show people that I deserved the opportunity to be on the same field as Chiefs players. I was pushing myself to go there and score goals. Even before the match started, our coaches were telling us that this is where we must show and prove to the supporters that we were not at Baroka by fluke. We had to prove that we were there because we deserved it. That is the match where we were told to prove our worth. That was a massive motivation and I was running all over the pitch like nobody's business. At the time, Chiefs had Itumeleng Khune in goals, Erick Mathoho in defence, Siphiwe Tshabalala in midfield – all their big guns were there. I scored the opening goal and Chiefs equalised and then made it 2-1. We scored a late equaliser and, at the end, we drew the match 2-2. Despite that, I think it was a great game and a massive boost for everyone in the team. That is when we all started to believe that we deserved to be where we were as professional players. I still remember the game like it was yesterday and just thinking about it brings a wave of emotions because I enjoyed myself. Just thinking about it, that I came from (the) Third Division, going for trials at Baroka and worked my way up to this level, it's very humbling. Baroka is the first club that gave me my first taste of professional football and it didn't take them too long to believe that I was more than capable of playing at this level. It was everything that I have dreamt of.
On The Need To Bring Back The Glory Days
Before the beginning of this season, I joined AmaZulu FC and unfortunately it was after they had completed the preseason. I only joined the team with a few days before the new season started. We all know how important pre-season training is with the team, but since then I've been training hard trying to learn about combinations in the team. Look, I don't want to make excuses about the fact that we have not been able to score goals so far this season, but combinations between players is something that takes time and we are still working on them. We have a great team full of quality players and we just need to find ourselves at the right place, at the right time. But I have no doubt that sooner or later, goals will come. I joined AmaZulu FC because I want to add value to this team and score goals. I want to get this team (to) where it belongs, which is amongst the top eight teams in the country. I believe that we can even challenge for a cup title because we are more than capable. AmaZulu FC is a big club and we need to bring back the glory days and I'm happy to be here. I want to help and be part of that. In the first three games of this season, we have not conceded goals, that is good and positive, but it also puts pressure on us strikers because we have to take our chances and put the ball in the back of the net. My plea to Usuthu supporters is that they must not give up on us, they must keep supporting us. We are working very hard to start getting wins and they must come out in numbers and support us.
Victor Letsoalo,
AmaZulu FC striker
