New boys La Masia ready for the big-time

By Andile & Mandla Dladla

La Masia FC are the new kids on the block in the South African professional football landscape and they aim to make a mark even though they are newcomers to the professional scene.

The Motsepe Foundation Championship is set to resume at the beginning of September and with that in mind, teams have been busy preparing for what is expected to be a thrilling campaign and La Masia is no exception.

All teams have been whipping their players into shape during pre-season in order to get them physically ready to challenge and compete when the whistle is blown in week one of the championship within the next fortnight.

La Masia FC who are a Johannesburg based team and newly promoted to the National First Division are hard at work in preparation for their opening match against JDR Stars at the Wits Football Stadium in Milpark on September 2.

The team from Westbury lined-up against relegated Premiership side Baroka FC in a game that they hoped to analyse the performance of the team with the hope of finding out how ready are the boys ahead of kick-off.

They went down 2-0 to Bakgaka-ba-ga-Mphahlele and the coach was the first to admit that although tactically the boys did well and was happy about the shape and structure of the team, he was nonetheless aware that they are not where he wants them to be at this stage.

However, there were glimpses here and that that gave him confidence that the team will not be a pushover nor are they in the second tier of South African football to make up the numbers. He is confident that they will definitely compete and will not curl up and be run over.

Supporters of the newly promoted outfit turned out in their numbers at the Panorama FC grounds in what was a very cold Saturday to show love to their team which did not disappoint even though they are now competing at a higher level.

Everyone involved with the team is ready and excited for this challenge and hope that the boys will survive and make all their supporters very proud.