I am writing this column with a bleeding heart from our 5-1 home loss to Mamelodi Sundowns last Friday. I have been receiving a lot of correspondence from the soccer supporters as well as different media structures about what was speculated to be “difficult times” in The Team of Choice’s camp.

As far as I am concerned, it would have been ignorant to think that beating Sundowns was going to be easy, especially for the team that has had half of their squad representing the South African national soccer team in the last three months.

Failing to take our chances against the team of Sundowns calibre meant that we had to bear the consequences and unfortunately we learnt the hard way. Friday loss came with a mounting task to regroup and get ready for the next challenge, as Napoleon’s Hill said “ Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit.

Therefore it is inevitable to learn from this defeat because Sundowns were a better team on the night and were deserved victors.

It is impossible not to realize that the heat in the PSL is reaching a boiling point with all the teams wanting to finish the first round games on high note. The PSL 2009/10 season may as well be one the closely contested one given the nature of its shortened period and the closeness of the fixtures.

Character strength, unity, focus, zeal and zest will play a pivotal role for any team which seek to triumph and survive this season, and at Maritzburg United our technical team understand that hence the core principle in approach to this season is to take each game as serious as the last.

The record of three losses, four draws and two wins is not very far from that principle, although there is an urgency to uplift our game as all the teams seems to approach us with caution and extra added effort courtesy of our promising start of the new season which included beating Kaizer Chiefs away from home.

I will also be failing not to acknowledge the support that “The Team of Choice” is receiving from the people of Pietermaritzburg as surrounding areas.

The Midlands is known to possess colourful people who are passionate about soccer, from the old days of Sobantu Shooting Stars, Real Taj, Maritzburg City, Mighty Pa and many more teams who attracted soccer die hards from all corners of the KZN capital City.

I must say that the last three home games that we played Pietermaritzburg soccer fans have came out in numbers to cheer, inspire and to add the 12 th player element into the team and we wish to thank them for their continued support despite our not so good performance at home.

As the leader of the Supporters Structure Portfolio my wish is to see people of Pietermaritzburg, Howick, Richmond, Escourt,Newcastle, Ixopo, Impendle and nearing towns getting more involve with the team. Your weekly presence in our games shows that you bear the love and passion for the team and there is so much you can contribute.

It is through this motive that together with the Marketing department will be hosting a public interaction workshop open to every soccer fanatics in Maritzburg regardless of which team they support, the objective of the workshop will be to outline the vision, objectives and plan of the team and the structure of supporter development but more importantly it will be to listen to the people of greater Pietermaritzburg and the supporters of The Team of Choice about what they wish to see happening in the team.

This initiative will be one amongst many planned initiatives for the season as part of supported development and education. Details of the workshop will follow soon on the website and on the press .

Ukwanda kwaliwa umthakathi

Let the war continue…………………..

Zazi kaMahlomeka Nxele