Injuries force Bennies to reshuffle ahead of St David’s clash
With his squad having been struck by a number of injuries, St Benedict’s College coach Owen Mvimbi is anticipating a tough encounter when his side takes on St David’s Marist Inanda, in Sandton, on Saturday.
St Benedict’s will be without two key players – Ryan van Zyl and Christopher Burnham – but they welcome Emanuele Joseph, Phatu Muluadzi, and Mothei Mutloane into their squad.
Coach Mvimbi acknowledged the difficulty of having to adjust his team ahead of the important clash.
“This week’s preparation has been a mix of hard work and reflection, especially with the injuries,” Mvimbi told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“Bringing in new players and helping them integrate into the team environment, adapt to the game level, and understand our rules has been a challenge.
“We’ve watched a lot of video, and we’ve talked through our tough (0-6) loss to KES (King Edward VII School. We are working on getting back into our stride.”
Despite the disruptions, Bennies has some regular standouts to rely on, including Connor Odgers, Rhett Zillen, Amraj Mangat, Alex Johnston, and Josh Grobler.
“Those guys look sharp right now,” Mvimbi enthused. “Hopefully, they can lift the level of those around them, so we deliver a strong, unified performance.”
Mvimbi expects an intense contest on Saturday. “Both teams are in a similar place this season,” he explained. “We’ve had our ups and downs – some great performances and others where we were shocked by the result.
“It’s not just about winning; it’s about fight and desire. Sometimes our strikers give up too soon. I want them to see it through, play with pride and passion, play for the school and their brothers.
“Hopefully, we can get the win. We beat them three times last year.”
Meanwhile, St David’s coach Shaun Laubscher is keeping his team grounded as they approach the fixture.
“Our preparation has been consistent with what we’ve done all season,” he said. “St Benedict’s is always a tough opponent. They play good hockey and can punish you if you make mistakes. They’re a well-drilled side.”
Laubscher also praised his own team’s efforts throughout the season.
“We’ve focused on performance over results this year. It’s been an up-and-down season, but I’m proud of how the boys have worked and pushed themselves.”
Pushback is at 10:15.
