Stellenbosch FC reserve team coach Evangelos Vellios has backed his table-topping side to put in another fighting performance in their DStv Diski Challenge encounter against Cape Town City on Sunday.

Stellies’ reserves emerged from the Solomon Mahlangu stadium with a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates last weekend that saw the team climb to the summit of the DStv Diski Challenge standings heading into this weekend’s derby.

“It was a massive win for us,” Vellios reflects. “But the challenge is to just focus on the next game and ensure that we do our part.

“I tell the players every week that we have set our own targets for the season and until we achieve those targets it is pointless to worry about logs and opponents and what they will do.”

“That said, it was a victory that got us closer to our target and put us on top of the log against a very tough opponent away from home. The boys again held their nerve and withstood the pressure to get a massive three points.

“Being on top can be a distracting factor but we are just focused on our target. Once we get to that, we can see how many games are left and if we are in a position to get more points than the target.

“If we do that I think we will be close to winning this league. Four games is a long way to go and we still have some really tough games, but I am really proud of the boys and their effort and execution.”

This weekend the Young Maroons will set their sights on obtaining another three points in the Cape Derby and Vellios believes his side’s will to succeed will outweigh that of his opponents.

“It’s going to be an epic battle,” he concludes. Derbies always are, and Cape Town City is a really strong team that is well-coached and that scores a lot of goals.

“We’re expecting a really tough game but we trust that our desire to win the game will be higher than theirs. It has to be, considering what we are fighting for, and also considering that it is a derby and a home game.

Kick-off for the DStv Diski Challenge match between Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town City kicks off at 12H00 this Sunday, 21 April at Idas Valley Stadium.