Plucky NMMU hold the key for UJ
Judging by their current log placing, it would seem that FNB NMMU (seventh on the log, with four points) have nothing more than pride to play for in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
In an interesting development, however, the Men from Port Elizabeth do, in fact, have a potentially crucial role to play in the final battle for semifinal places…
After their vital and admittedly damp 9-3 win over Tukkies on Monday, FNB UJ travel to the ‘Windy City’ knowing that they need to win to secure a semifinal spot – particularly with their closest rivals, FNB Shimlas expected to triumph over FNB TUT.
Kolie and Denver Brandt’s men thus have a very clear role to play in UJ’s destiny. And it is something they are relishing.
“It just shows you how great this tournament is,” laughed NMMU ‘s affable team manager Denver Brandt in conversation with varsitycup.co.za.
“It’s nice to still have a role to play in the tournament and it certainly gives our boys a boost.”
Brandt was quick to point out that their opponents’ quest for a place in the semifinals would trump their aspirations of party-crashers and that he was expecting a “huge assault (from UJ) because they (would) have everything to play for”.
Denver, however, hinted at a possible counter to the UJ juggernaut.
“For most of the season now we have tried to adopt an expansive approach,” he revealed. “I think our biggest shortfall this season has been our inability to keep ball in hand for extended periods of times.
“That may just change next Monday,” he added rather ominously.
Whether NMMU end their season on a positive note or not, it nevertheless would have remained a taxing campaign for a team that is still finding it difficult to bridge the player resource gap between them and their peers.
“Ja,” the manager agreed, “if there was a ‘story’ of our season that (the above notion) would probably be it.
“Our victory against TUT means that we did have a better season than 2008, but what is still glaringly obvious to me is that we are still struggling to get enough talent at our club to compete competitively.”
And that is why it becomes important for the club to perform well in their last match of the 2009 Varsity Cup, as a win over a high-profile opponent such as UJ would do much to raise the profile at the club.
Watch how NMMU aim to spoil UJ’s quest for a semifinal when they meet at the Xerox NMMU Stadium on Monday, March 9. Kick-off is at 6.45pm.
By Heinz Schenk
