Images: Supplied, Own

The anticipation is palpable as the defending champions of the Sasol League Western Cape, Dangerous Heroes, prepare to take on the rising stars of the University of Cape Town (UCT) in the provincial playoffs this weekend.

 For Dangerous Heroes, this marks their third consecutive playoff appearance. Two years ago, they faced defeat against CR Vasco da Gama, but they bounced back last year with a resounding victory against Spurs Women Football Club. This time around, expectations are running high, and many believe they have what it takes to come out on top.

 Despite the mounting pressure, Heroes’ coach and chairman, Bayanda Sikiti, remains unfazed. He’s confident that his team is handling the weight of expectations with poise and determination.

 “The pressure is always on, and the expectations are quite lofty,” Sikiti acknowledges. “We’ve always pushed ourselves to the limit, and we’ll continue to work tirelessly to perform well. Our players are in a good state of mind; they understand the mission and are adept at managing the pressure.”

 The journey to the playoffs this year was far from easy. Heroes emerged victorious in the fiercely competitive Stream A, finishing with just four points ahead of second-placed Cape Town Roses. Reflecting on the 2023 season, Sikiti describes it as “challenging and tricky.”

 “The competition in our stream was intense, with every club giving their all, especially when facing us. The stakes were raised when we suffered our second loss. As defending champions, no club wanted to concede defeat to us,” Sikiti explains.

 So, what fueled Heroes’ success this season?

“Our technical team, players, and everyone involved doubled down on their efforts. Our primary goal was to become an exceptionally competitive club and build on our success from the previous season. Our junior teams excelled last year, participating in numerous finals, such as Denis Goldberg, Golden United, and Engen Knockout. While our Sasol team won the provincial league, we knew we had to elevate our performance at the national level. This season, we intensified our work ethic, ensuring we remained competitive in all competitions. It would have been disappointing for a team that performed so well last season to falter this year,” Sikiti proudly affirms.

 Turning his attention to this weekend’s formidable opponent, UCT, Sikiti is quick to praise them and expects a challenging contest.

 “UCT is a formidable side, and we congratulate them on their victory in the fiercely contested Stream B. Our approach remains consistent; we stick to our game plan as long as it serves us well. We have faith in our plan and the process, and that’s paramount for us.”

Edited by Nicklaus Kruger