“We have been working hard to be prepared for the season,” confirms midfield dynamo Hendrick Ekstein. “We are ready to play and, most importantly, we are all willing to work hard for the team.”

Amakhosi are scheduled to kick start their 2016/17 Absa Premiership campaign with an away fixture against the ‘Clever Boys’, Bidvest Wits. “If our preparations are anything to go by,” adds the 25-year-old, “I can confidently say - yes, we are ready to play in our first game of the season.”

“Every team is a closed book for now,” says Ekstein ahead of the trip to Bidvest Stadium. “At this stage we will rely on our strength more than anything. They might be having a bit of information about us, because they saw our friendly matches on TV. However, we didn’t expose our entire plan in the friendlies anyway. And, by the way, we beat them twice last season, home and away.”

“I am working hard to persuade the technical team to hand me more playing time this season,” comments Ekstein, following his stop-start 2015/16 PSL season. “I didn’t have a convincing campaign last season. But that is water under the bridge now. This time I am prepared to fight for my place in the line-up. Important for me is to make a contribution for the team. We want to lift trophies this season.”

“The new players have gelled nicely in the team,” comments Ekstein about the new signees. “Also, we are working very well with the new technical team members.”

“As for now, we can’t wait for Tuesday,” Ekstein enthuses. “We are mentally and physically ready. The supporters must just know that we aim at making them happy this season.”

The Amakhosi’s away fixture to the Clever Boys will be played under the floodlights, kick-off is at 19:30.