I built a team that can win trophies - Alviro
by Brendon Atwell 14 February 2013, 15:48
The last four seasons have seen the bizhub Higveld Lions grow from strength to strength with the likes of Neil McKenzie, Alviro Petersen and Stephen Cook as captains.
The Lions have also produced some quality players this season. Aaron Phangiso and Quinton de Kock have represented South Africa in the T20 internationals and ODIs against New Zealand, while Chris Morris and Hardus Viljoen have formed a deadly new-ball partnership.
"We are really excited. When I took over as captain four years ago, we had no international players and we have come a long way as a team," said Petersen at the official launch of the new RAM SLAM T20 Challenge at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Tuesday.
"One of the key points of my job, when I was appointed as captain, was to build a team that can win trophies and play good, attractive cricket. And I believe that this team can do it," Petersen said.
The Lions began the 2012/13 season with a bang when they reached the final of the Champions League T20 tournament, losing out to the Sydney Sixers.
The Johannesburg-based franchise carried their form into the Momentum One Day Cup, opening up an unassailable lead at the top of the log and contesting the final with the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras.
"We started the year well and we want to end the year on the same note. We were a little unlucky in the Momentum Cup, with the rain, but I think that the Cobras and the Lions deserved to share it at the end of the day," Petersen mused.
"We've played in the CLT20 final, shared the Momentum Cup and lost out on the Sunfoil Series on the last weekend. If you told me that four years ago, I would have been very happy," said Petersen.
Petersen stressed the fact that this Lions team are focused on winning trophies. The mix of youth and experience has been brought together under the eye of Geoffrey Toyana.
"Geoffrey has brought a different element to the team, the guys seem more relaxed," added Petersen.
"I do not want to take anything away from anyone at the Lions because everyone has put in the hours. They know exactly what they want to achieve and how to achieve it.
"This team has played well over the last few seasons, and the driving force behind it, the key factor, is that we wanted to play for each other," Petersen said.
