Hellenic, usually very consistent, have started the season on the wrong foot
Ntuthuko Maphumulo
What have Hellenic done to anger the gods? That’s the question coach Steve Haupt is asking himself after a number of defeats at the beginning of the season.
The Cape Town-based side, known as the “Greek gods”, are languishing near the bottom of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) log after gathering just one point from their first four games.
The latest setback came on Wednesday when they suffered a 1-2 loss in their derby match against local rivals Santos. It’s a sad state of affairs for a club that has been in the top flight since professional soccer was introduced to South Africa.
Haupt is in charge of a young and inexperienced squad with an average age of 20, but Hellenic are hoping to improve their fortunes by signing an experienced central defender and striker.
It’s a far cry from the glory years of the Seventies, when the club were the inaugural winners of the National Football League title in 1971 and legends such as George Best, Gordon Banks and Bobby Moore made guest appearances in the club’s blue and white strip.
Although the club have not won a major honour since the Chevrolet Cup in 1976, they have frequently contested the BPTop 8 cup and seemed the epitome of mid-table security.
But their league standings in the past few years have declined from fifth in 1996/97 to 14th last season, when they had some anxious moments and avoided relegation by just a few points.
Hellenic are known for producing excellent young players through their youth system and most of their squad this season is made up of these youngsters.
The coach is happy with the youngsters, saying that each match they go out hoping to win. “I am impressed with the youngsters and how they handled their last two games,” says Haupt. But he does admit that it is hard work for a coach to try and fast-track the youngsters in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The team began their losing streak in the first game of the new season against Clive Barker’s Manning Rangers, who walloped them 7-0, followed by a 2-1 defeat by PSL newcomers Black Leopards. Hellenic were then close to registering their first win against Supersport United, but an own goal in the final six minutes resulted in a 2-2 draw.
Wednesday’s exciting derby against Santos started badly for Haupt’s team when Teboho Tsiu scored after 12 minutes. They went further behind before striker Craig Bianchi scored from a free kick near the halfway line just before half time.
Hellenic will be hoping to turn around their losing streak when they take on Jomo Cosmos this weekend.
If they can’t start winning matches, they will have to dwell in memories of the past when the Greek gods were happy with their football. “The gods have not deserted us but are always out there to test us,” says Haupt.