VALGAS still harbour ambitions to play in the ABC Motsepe League after losing to Amavarara over the weekend while the latter team is aiming for the upper league.
The Rep spoke to Valgas president Phumelele Hlati and Amavarara chairman Lusapho Mzwakali about their experience of the season during which the two sides that went head to head for a spot to compete in the provincial playoffs.
Amavarara were the winners of stream A while Valgas won stream B of the SAB League. Amavarara beat Valgas 2-0 at the Dumpy Adams Stadium on Saturday.
Hlati said Valgas was proud of their achievements and had no regrets as “we lost to a better team on the day”.
He said the success of the team was based on hard work and dedication from both the players and management.
“Our high points were finishing top in our stream and coming so close in the playoffs and our lows were losing in the semifinals of the Gwede Mantashe Easter tournament and quarter finals in the new year’s cup in Grahamstown.”
The team would focus on nurturing a “killer instinct” in the future while it wanted to partner with businesses to ensure better resources.
Mzwakali said the club was looking forward to playing in the ABC Motsepe League. “If we are not promoted it means we did not achieve anything this year. It has been an easy season for us and we won our stream with five games to go.”
The team’s motto was “Coming together is the beginning of things, keeping together is progress and working together is success”.
Mzwakali said the club took care of the personal welfare of players paying for tuition and accommodation from high school to tertiary institutions as well as ensuring players got drivers’ licences.
Team public relations officer Lunga Gwana said the club was ready to work with those who shared their vision.
“We need to come together for the greater good of football in the district.”
Coach Mzunani Mgwigwi’s five-year contract had come to an end.
Mgwigwi, a former National First Division Mthatha Bucs coach, had helped develop the team in the past five years and his work was highly appreciated, he said.
