Speaking ahead of Friday night’s MTN8 clash with Bidvest Wits, Phunya Sele Sele midfielder Lyle Lakay says that his side do not fear their Johannesburg opponents.

Celtic were knocked out at the first round stage the 2012 MTN8 competition, while Wits failed to qualify.

The Clever Boys are increasingly aligning themselves as one of the PSL’s biggest clubs, if their signings over the last two seasons are to be used as a yard-stick.

But Celtic have ambitions of their own, and are amongst the best-supported clubs in the land.

Now in his second season with the Free State outfit after joining from NFD side FC Cape Town, Lakay appears to have cemented himself as a regular starter in Clinton Larsen’s team.

A tricky left winger, Lakay is very much in the Daine Klate mould: he has excellent touch, the ability to beat his man, a cultured left boot which usually delivers an accurate cross and occasionally weighs in with a goal, and the ability to play on either flank.

The player says he is feeling on top of his game at present and hopes to help fire Celtic to victory at the Bidvest Stadium on Friday evening (18H00 kick off).

“I am happy as long as I am playing and things have been going well, the coach has given me game-time and that has given me more confidence. I feel that my team-mates have trust in me and hopefully I can go out and have a good game and help us through to the next round.

“We know that these days Wits are a big side. They have got a good new coach (Gavin Hunt) and we will have to watch out for players like Sibusiso Vilakazi and Benjani Mwaruwari, while Matthew Booth will be a threat in the air at set pieces,” he told PSL.co.za.

Lakay says that although his side lost their opening Absa Premiership match to Mamelodi Sundowns, there is a feeling of optimism in the camp ahead of the opening 2013 MTN8 fixture on Friday.

“We have not changed our side much from last season, so the core of the team are still here. These are the same players that won the Telkom Knockout, so we know what it takes to win trophies.

“My team-mates want to experience that feeling again. I want to do it again. Last season was the first time I have won a major trophy in my career and the first time the club had won something in eight years – we’re hungry for more, we’re up for the challenge on Friday.”
Source: http://www.psl.co.za