Fort Hare may have gone down in their first FNB Varsity Football match in five years, but coach Mongile Nyosana has no doubt his charges belong in the top tier.
Despite a 2-0 home defeat to Vaal University of Technology on a scorching Thursday afternoon in Alice, the team created countless chances and grew in confidence as the game went on.
Nyosana admitted his side may have suffered from “stage fright” given more than a thousand fans flocked to Fort Hare’s Davidson Stadium to cheer them on – a crowd few, if any, had encountered before.
“In the first half we were poor because we were nervous. We lost possession easily,” he said.
“But we showed a lot more hunger in the second, even with them scoring two goals.”
It was a case of giving VUT too much space to shoot in the last 45 minutes, with a free kick and long-range shot both finding the net.
Carelessness, rather than defensive deficiency, was to blame. The first goal came in the 47th minute and the second 10 minutes later.
“We actually had a lot more chances than them,” Nyosana said.
Fort Hare skipper Bonke Nxiwa has taken the loss to VUT on the chin and is looking ahead to the team’s next six games in the FNB Varsity Football competition. Photo: Full Stop Communications
“They were kicking from long range, but we were creating chances in the box with our passing game. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to score from them.”
One aspect that the coach and captain Bonke Nxiwa could not fault was the fitness of the players.
Fort Hare had spent more than a month focusing solely on strength and conditioning ahead of Varsity Football’s opening day – and that was evident on the pitch as the heat of the day sapped the players’ energy.
While the opposition players started to suffer from cramp, Fort Hare kept pushing until the final whistle.
Nyosana also took heart from the performances of midfielder Bubele Gcuku and substitute striker Lehlonolo Thuledi.
“They were very involved in the game despite the pressure. Their passing game was good and they were going for every ball.”
While the team were obviously disappointed not to get the result they wanted, the coach has reminded them that it had been only the first game of the tournament, with six opportunities left.
“It was good for them to be out there to experience what it’s going to be like in Varsity Football. I have spoken to the team and they believe they will come back.
“If we overcome our fears and play our own game like we did in the second half, we can compete.
“In the first half we were too quiet. We will be working on that this week.”
Fort Hare next play the University of the Free State – also at home. The latter’s first-round match against TUT ended in a goalless draw.
It would be a stern examination for the Eastern Cape institution but now that they had re-entered the Varsity Football fray and got a taste of top-level soccer, they would be up for the challenge, Nyosana said.
“We ask our fans to come out in numbers; we are depending on them. They shouldn’t give up on us because we have the intensity needed to win.
“We are still very positive. We are soldiers.”