Vellios wary of plucky Chilli Boys

Stellenbosch reserves coach Evangelos Vellios has downplayed the talk of them being the favourites to go all the way and clinch the DStv Diski Shield title.

Stellenbosch, who are the reigning league champions, will face Chippa United in the first semifinal of the Diski Shield on Saturday morning at Giant Stadium in Soshanguve.

Kick-off is at 10am CAT (SA, GMT+2).

Vellios said they can't underestimate The Chilli Boys as they proved to be one of the best teams last season when they challenged for the league title.

The Stellies mentor believes they cannot be written off as they know that winning three games in a row will see them being crowned champions.

But Vellios is optimistic that having tasted gold with the league title his players can also go all the way to complete a double.

“Chippa are very dangerous team, on their day they are one of the most ruthless teams in the top four. We saw even when we played them in the league last season they were not a easy opponent,” Vellios told the website.

“I would not say we are favourites. For us it would be great to complete the double; the boys have tasted the Gold so they are hungry plus the new players coming in know what the the expectations are.”

Vellios revealed that he was not impressed with their performance in the quarterfinal where they defeated Maritzburg United 2-1.

But going to the semis he believes his players have gained a little bit of mileage and their levels of fitness would be better on Saturday.

He explained: “I think preparations were good, last week we did not play one of our best games because we only trained for eight days but now going to the semifinals I believe things will be better as we had now at least 15 days of training.

“We have a clean bill of health and we have cover in the goalkeeping department. I am looking forward to the game, I believe the boys will implement the plan and strategies that will see us winning on Saturday.”

The final of the Diski Shield is scheduled to take place at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale next Saturday, just a day before Stellies jet off to the UK for their tour which comes as a reward for winning the Diski Challenge League title.