17 September 2018 – Being rooted at the bottom of the Western Cape Sasol League table after nine matches without a single point may not be ideal situation for Nietvoorbij FC but highly optimistic coach and club owner, John Saaiman is adamant that there is hope for his side.

Even without a single point halfway through the season, Saaiman says to him and his side, football is not just about getting the results but the life lessons that it teaches you in life.

Besides the financial difficulties of running a club with limited sponsorship, Saaiman has done an exceptional job in motivating his side to keep their heads up and honour all their fixtures by giving a good fight in every encounter.

“The results may not have gone our way, but we are a still motivated to finish the season. A lot of clubs would have given up by now, but we are not quitters. I told my players that I just need them to give their best in every game because there’s more to football than winning. We don’t believe in quitting” said a confident Saaiman.

The 55-year-old who started coaching 30 years ago says the distance of where his players reside has also played a role in where they find themselves half way through the season.

“Our players stay very far apart and in some cases, we only have seven players available for training. So we are unable to prepare as much as we would like to, however, the girls are very much motivated and are always asking me where our next match is. So even though we have various challenges, the spirit in the camp remains highly positive”

Nietvoorbij’s next match is against Santos this coming weekend. Santos are fifth on the log and are fresh from a 2-1 victory over Portia FC.

Western Cape Sasol League Table