league
Andrew Muchineripi : Soccer
Offered a choice of a present between a terrier of dubious pedigree and an award- winning Maltese poodle, Wits University Football Club coach Eddie Lewis would consistently plump for the former. His approach to a game he loves and has been involved in for more years than he readily cares to enumerate is similiar to the emphasis on players whose bite is worse than their bark.
Quick to point out that he is younger than Mario Zagallo of Brazil, Cesar Maldini of Italy and Bobby Robson of Barcelona, Lewis belongs to the sixtysomething club and the players he guides must be making him feel younger by the day.
Last weekend at damp, underlit Milpark Stadium in Braamfontein, Wits gained their fourth league victory in six outings by harassing, wearing down and eventually outplaying defending champions Manning Rangers. A spectacle it certainly was not and anyone among the small, enthusiastic crowd who came along for a display of silky touches left sadly disappointed. Lewis was being extraordinarily diplomatic when admitting the game was not much of a spectacle.
Tactically, it was a fascinating struggle, though, as teams who like to defend at the front rather than the back came eyeball to eyeball in what was always going to be a dour, tight, physical midfield struggle.
Milpark is not exactly the biggest pitch in the soccer kingdom yet, apart from Wits goalkeeper Roger de Sa and opposite number Grant Johnson, at least two thirds of the playing surface was unpopulated at times. Midfield was literally the centre of attention with no time and precious little space for anyone fortunate enough to win possession. From the kickoff, Wits made their intentions clear by snapping at the heels of Rangers and forcing errors.
Initially, it did not cause too much concern because Warren du Pont, once of Wits and now operating just in front of Rangers back three, acted like a vacuum, sweeping up just about everything that got through. When Johnson failed to clear a corner, Supersport United reject Nicky Shaw put Wits ahead and the goal appeared to mentally galvanise the team and bring relief to Lewis, who sometimes worries about the lack of confidence among his charges.
The coach who played for Manchester United in the days of centred hair partings and long, baggy shorts, had an amazingly quiet first half by his standards, meaning he abandoned his umbrella, stood up and told the officials their fortune only once.
Instead of a second-half Rangers revival, Wits grew stronger, harassing their opponents deep inside opposition territory with strikers Shaw and Gary McNab ensuring no defender strolled to the halfway line. Rangers gradually lost heart and when Stanton Fredericks danced his way through the middle for a superb solo goal midway through the second half, coach Gordon Igesund might as well have waved the white flag.
When Lewis replaced moderately successful John Lathan at the helm last year, Wits were on the fringe of the relegation zone and three consecutive victories steered the team away from shark-infested waters. Inevitably there were changes in personnel but even Eddie the Bold was surprised to discover that there were just three survivors from the Lathan era defenders Roan Malgue and Kevin Rafferty and midfielder Gordon Ewen in action against Rangers.
If the wholesale changes were seen as a deliberate purge, nothing could be further from the truth. It is not a secret, however, that Junaid Hartley and Lovers Mohlala did not see eye to eye with the new coach and their transfers came as no surprise.
Hartley claimed in several national soccer magazines that he could not tolerate a coach who swore at him, a remarkably hypocritical comment from a young footballer not known for using the Queens English at all times. The close-season loss of goalkeeper Perry Suckling to Supersport United (as assistant to coach Shane MacGregor) created a new-season headache for Lewis as young Shane Nienaber was exposed in an opening-round defeat by Jomo Cosmos.
Lewis clearly sensed the danger and snapped up out-of-favour Sundowns custodian Roger de Sa, who was one of the outstanding players in a superb team effort against Rangers.
Lacking the cash to splash, Wits bought experienced duo Sipho Sikonde from Moroka Swallows and Chancy Gondwe from Sundowns for modest fees and blooded youngsters who came up through the club ranks. Lewis must have been particularly proud of wingbacks Oscar Mohlolo and Ashley Makanya, who attacked with flair and, equally importantly, retreated deep into their own half at the slightest sign of danger to harass and tackle.
Just as one swallow does not make a summer, one victory does not make a season, but when Lewis speaks of a top-six finish, those used to dismissing Wits as perennial underachievers would do well to take note.