Ke Yona Team 'best ever'

Nedbank Ke Yona team coach Mike "Sporo" Mangena expects most of their players to land professional contracts at Premier Soccer League clubs when they undergo a month-long assessment.

All of the 18 Ke Yona players have been drafted into the 16 top division clubs. SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates will accommodate two players by virtue of being the Nedbank Cup finalists this year.

Though they were beaten 2-1 by SuperSport on Sunday at Makhulong Stadium, Mangena maintains that this year's team was the best.

"This team is the best we have ever had in the last four years. We are seeing improvement and I believe that this experience [playing SuperSport] will help the boys when they do their trials," Mangena said.

History was made when Zanoxolo Mduli netted the first ever goal for the Ke Yona Team, but it was not enough to give them their first victory.

However, Mangena thinks they did fairly well by conceding only two goals, citing that SuperSport are known for humiliating big clubs.

"Against a strong SuperSport team with [Reneilwe] Letsholonyane and [Thuso] Phala, our boys stood their ground. Teams got six [goals] from this SuperSport team [in reference to Matsatsantsa's 6-1 demolition of Pirates in November last year]. We were only beaten 2-1 and we are proud of that," Mangena added.