Nhlapo urges caution over Hope FC’s promotion ambitions

Hope FC midfielder Siyabonga Nhlapo says it would be “reckless” to describe the Motsepe Foundation Championship club as promotion contenders despite the experienced squad assembled for the new season.

The club have added established names including Miguel Timm and Keagan Dolly, but Nhlapo believes the team still needs time to develop under new coach Clayton Daniels.

“Sure, just to get to it straight away, I think it’s a bit unfair for us to already say we would be challenging for promotion,” Nhlapo told Soccer Laduma.

“ We have players like Miguel Timm and Keagan Dolly, but apart from those guys, I think the rest of the squad comes from the ABC (Motsepe League), and some of us come from the top flight.”

Daniels is coaching for the first time after spending his career as a player. Nhlapo said the squad’s experience would be valuable, but warned that several of the new arrivals were not playing regularly at their previous clubs.

“So obviously, we’ve got a new coach, Clayton Daniels. It’s his first time as a coach. He’s been a player all his life,” he said.

“So obviously, yes, the experience is there, but if you look even with the experience that they brought in, a lot of the guys weren’t taking part in their previous teams. They don’t have a lot of games under their belt.”

Nhlapo said the players were still working to regain confidence and match fitness, while the team continued to establish its playing style and develop an understanding on the pitch.

“I mean, it’s players that are trying to get their confidence back. It’s players that are trying to get game time. There’s a lot that needs to take place in terms of the style and getting the blending. And obviously, yes, our experience is going to help,” he added.

Rather than setting an immediate target of winning the division, Nhlapo said Hope FC would concentrate on collecting points consistently and remaining in contention.

“But to say we’re going to challenge for the league is an unnecessary statement. We are a team that looks to build and then gain its stripes in this division,” he said. “We’ll box cleverly.”

He added: “We’ll win our games, those that we need to win. But to say we stand a chance to win the league would be a reckless statement.”

Hope FC have won two and lost one of their opening three matches.

They host Cape Town City at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, 13 September.