Posted in News on Aug 01, 2007.
It is not just the fans who have been caught up in the excitement and are eagerly looking forward to their weekend trip to the 2007 Telkom Charity Cup, Chiefs midfielder Thuso Phala can be added to the list of those eager for the competition to kick off.
For Phala who has not played in the competition before, the prospect of playing in a Soweto derby is a mouth watering one. He is aiming to get Chiefs into the final on Saturday where he is hoping to play his former team, Silver Stars, who will be making their Charity Cup debut this weekend When they play Bloemfontein Celtic in the other semifinal on Saturday.
Kaizerchiefs.com managed to get a few minutes with a clearly excited Phala on Wednesday, and found out from the young midfield that he has no stage fright ahead of this weekend’s tournament.
KC.COM: Thuso how have your pre – season preparations gone over the past few weeks and are you happy with the progress you have made so far during this time as you build towards the new season?
TP: I think that things have been going well for me, I always felt that being inactive for something like eight months will affect me in certain ways. Thankfully, even though I have not been in competitive action, the training and friendly games have helped me keep up my fitness. Obviously I used every opportunity given to me through the Vodacom Challenge and other recent friendly matches to improve my over all fitness, and particularly to work on my match fitness.
KC.COM: Do you feel that you have made progress in those departments, improving your fitness and match preparedness?
TP: Over the past month or so, most definitely. I was given a programme by the team physiotherapist which he wanted me to work on during the off season, so that by the time we returned to training on the 25th, we would be ready for the pre-season.
I worked hard on my own through May and June so when we got back into the regime I was okay and have been able to build on the physical and technical side of my play. When it comes to match fitness I feel that I am making progress and hopefully I will be able to get enough action this weekend in the Telkom Charity Cup.
KC.COM: Talking of the Charity Cup, are you looking forward to playing in your first one this weekend?
TP: Most definitely so, since I was a youngster I have always watched the tournament on television and with four good teams participating, it is a real pleasure to be part of such an event. Also there is the charity element of the competition and I am glad to play a part in helping those less fortunate than me in some way. Lets hope the PSL can reach their target of R 5 million which they are aiming to raise from this year's event.
Playing Pirates again means that we get to experience that special Soweto Derby rivalry that exists between us and them and obviously we want to get back at them for knocking us out of the Vodacom Challenge.
KC.COM: Should Chiefs get to the final, who would you like to meet Celtic or Silver Stars?
TP: There is only one answer to that, which is Stars. I want to face my old team mates again as I have not played against them yet since leaving Stars at the start of the year and what better place to meet them in than in a Cup Final.
KC.COM: Should you get your wish and Chiefs play and beat Stars in the final do you think your mother Suzan who is the Silver Stars PRO will allow you back into the house?
TP: The funny thing is that so far this week we have avoided talking about the Charity Cup Final, I won’t say 'if' but instead 'when' we win, I will come home and quietly slip back into the house. Thankfully I have my own key being a weekend and the fact that her team is also in action, I don’t think that she will be able to change the locks. (laughs at the end).
