DStv Premiership debutants Richards Bay have spoken out about the prospect of a dream campaign ending up landing them in the CAF club competitions next season.
Richards Bay have surprisingly kept themselves in contention for continental football next season giving rise to questions about if they honestly desire that rough and rugged experience.
With Mamelodi Sundowns to finish as champions second and third place remain available for them.
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"The honest part of me says we're not ready for that (CAF club competition football)," admits their co-coach, Vasili Manousakis.
"And so, what does that mean?
"We will take our foot off the pedal. No. Certainly not but I think realistically we are not geared up for that.
"I was part of the technical team (at AmaZulu) that qualified for the Champions League by finishing second.
"I think as we get close to the end of the season if we are in with some kind of chance there is certainly going to be some kind of discussion at management and board level to say, 'what next'.
"It takes careful planning and if you look at Marumo now where they are and that they still need to go and compete there (CAF), it is not for the faint hearted.
"The Champions League was an amazing experience and I'm talking about when we were at AmaZulu playing against some of the best in Setif and Raja.
"It looks glamorous and was an amazing experience, but it is tough on you and that is why I have said many times that you got to take your hat off to these guys who compete year in and year out at Champions League level because it is not for the faint hearted.
"Even if you have a look at the team (Cape Town City) that finished second last season they didn't manage to qualify for the Champions League or Confed, so it is not as easy as it seems, so I think we need to trade cautiously as get closer to that stage of the league," reasons Manousakis while stating what their priority is now.
"The biggest thing that we want to achieve is consistency.
"If we can keep the same consistency or fairly close like we did in the first round then I think we are going to be okay in the end," he notes.
Richards Bay sit third on the standings with 11 games to play.
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