De Kock: 'First win around the corner'
The FNB TUT Vikings’ first win since March 2008, in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, is around the corner – according to head coach Alex de Kock.
De Kock believes that his team’s gutsy performance against the FNB Ikey Tigers on Monday (despite going down 19-25), after a very inspiring one the week before against FNB Tuks (when they lost 30-42), shows beyond any doubt how they have grown in self-confidence this season.
“A soft try and poor finishing in the first half were our downfall eventually, but our performance in the last 40 minutes when we succeeded in retaining possession and forcing them to adapt to our style of play, is very encouraging,” he told varsitycup.co.za.
“The players were shattered after the game as they felt they played well enough to win,” he continued.
“But we will not be disheartened as I firmly believe that we will break our winning drought – either against Shimlas (March 1 in Bloemfontein) or Pukke (March 8 in Potchefstroom). We are not mere participants any longer. We play to win and will not be easy prey!”
He agrees that Shimlas will be on the mark come Monday (the Vikings’ next opponents – in Bloemfontein on March 1, kick-off 6.30pm), as they need to win to stay in contention for the semifinals.
“They will be out to prove a point… but so do we,” added De Kock.
The FNB TUT Vikings will, however, be without their first-choice flyhalf Jacques Venter against the Shimlas – who have now lost two matches in a row.
Venter injured his shoulder against UCT and could be sidelined for up to two weeks.
By Morris Gilbert
* Picture credit: Doug Fitz-Gerald
