Being defending champions brings one form of pressure, but for UP-Tuks coach Evangelos Vellios it is the expectation of the University that is truly driving his squad.
Having defeated NMMU comfortably in last year’s Varsity Football Final 4-1, Tuks have put a target on their back for this season as the others look to overthrow the champions.
Vellios has spoken about the professionalism and expectation that the University puts on his team and feels that a force pushing you for your best can only be a good thing.
“Tuks is an institution that is used to winning,” he said in anticipation of the opening of Varsity Football 2014.
“They have a proud and successful record, not only in football, but all sports.
“There is obviously pressure from the other teams who are gunning for us as the defending champions, but I think it is the expectation that hangs around the team that is the strongest.
“Not that there is anything wrong with that,” he continued.
“The boys have been in this set-up for a while and they are used to it – it pushed them to do great things.”
The Tuks squad is one that has lost a number of star players, but has also replaced them with men of equal or even greater calibre.
“Thabo Mnyamane has come to us from NWU and has also been included in the professional Ama-Tuks team for the upcoming PSL season, he should provide plenty of firepower up front,” Vellios added.
“We also welcome back our captain, Robin Swart, who spent some time in the Cape with UWC finishing his honors.
“Mbongeni Masilela is another big player for us, he knows how to score goals having bagged five from last season.
“In fact, out of the top five goal scorers from last season, three of them are with us this time around.”
Vellios is also happy to have retained some of his senior players, some of them having been with him for nearly five years.
“The likes of Dean Wilkinson, Jarryd van den Berg, Lawrence Ntswane and Nicholas Stothard will be vital for our new guys coming in,” the coach said.
“We have a winning culture and a set way of doing things, I am relying on these guys to pass that on to the youngsters so that we can hit the ground running.”
