Zeca Marquez is at the helm of Santos and will be going all out to lead the NFD side to the PSL this season.
The former MTN8 winning coach took control of the Santos bench ahead of the 2015/16 season and although the club made very few additions to their playing roster, Marquez is adamant that it’s a new team.
The former Moroka Swallows head coach explains his approach, “The club is literally going in with the same squad, but with a different team, as the mentality is changing.
“I can guarantee that we’re going out to do everything possible to rekindle the old flame of Santos, but we need to be realistic as there’re many NFD teams that have spent lots of money this season… I’m talking about five or six clubs,” the coach went on.
Last season Marquez turned Black Leopards’ NFD campaign around, when he took the team from 13th place to the PSL promotional playoffs.
The coach indicated that he will, again, be pushing for promotion. “I came here to try for PSL status – I don’t need anyone to tell me that. I’m really going to put in a tremendous effort to get there, even if it’s via the play-offs,” explained the coach.
To read Marquez’s full interview, check out this week’s NFD Focus in the latest edition of Soccer Laduma, issue 940.