Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
HERENTALS captain Tino Benza has elected to be realistic after scoring his second goal of the season when helping the Students beat Dynamos 2-0 at Rufaro last Saturday.
The 24-year-old forward revealed he had set himself to hit a 20-goal mark at the beginning of this term.
But a lengthy injury-induced absence meant he has seen limited minutes, 19 games into the marathon.
The striker, though, is showing positive signs since his return and was in good form when he masterminded the win that took his team to sixth on the table with 28 points to their name, 12 behind leaders MWOS.
While he admits that hitting, at least 20 goals in the remaining 15 games could be a far-fetched wish, Tino sees himself getting double figures.
Speaking after being deservedly named the man-of-the-match against the Glamour Boys, Tino said:
“As Herentals, we are very happy to win a match having gone for the past five matches without a victory.
“We have been trying so hard to win matches but somehow, we have always coming short. But against Dynamos, our game-plan worked really well and we hope to continue in that trajectory.
“I am happy to be back firing again. I suffered some injury that side-lined me for quite a number of games and I struggled a bit when I returned.
“So getting to score my second goal of the season sort of releases some pressure valves which have been piling and setting me back.
“I had set myself a target of 20-plus goals this season. Well, I know it will be very difficult to hit that target at this juncture given how competitive the league is. But I still believe I can get double figures.”
Tino, who has predominantly been used as a winger this season, said Herentals strikers should up their game to complement their intact defence for the club to attain their targets.
The Students have scored the least number of goals (14) among clubs in the top six so far but their defence is second only to Scottland’s among the teams in the top six after conceding just 10 goals in 19 games.
“We are a club with their own ambitions and targets to meet this season and that demands a pro-active role from our attack,” he said.
“Last season we finished in fifth place and we are obviously gunning for something better than that this term.
“We have been very solid at the back this term but we are not doing as much upfront. I think we should up our game in this regard.”
