Cape Town - Newly appointed Santos coach Zeca Marques believes the club deserve to be playing in the Premiership and has targeted winning the National First Division (NFD) title this season.
The 2002/03 champions were relegated in the 2011/12 season and have been unable to make their way back to the topflight since.
The People's Team have a long way to go, having finished just two places above the NFD relegation zone last season, but this has not stopped Marques from targeting the title.
"We have to give ourselves a target. We know we have to have ambition," he told Football411.
"If we don't set ourselves a target and show that we're ambitious, we are not going to win anything.
"We are just going to play and hopefully do better than last season.
"This is a promotional league and Santos deserve to be in the Premiership.
"We know it's a difficult task, but we have to believe and we have to set ourselves a target.
"Then if we fall short, hopefully we fall just short so that we are in the playoffs."
Marques was appointed as Santos coach on Thursday, July 23, shortly after ending his stay with Black Leopards.
Santos could still dip into the transfer market to strengthen the squad and Marques refused to rule out a move for striker Roggert Nyundu.
"Obviously I would love to have Nyundu here. I know Wits have targeted him," he added.
"I hope he stays there because he deserves it, but if he doesn't I guarantee I will be the first knocking at his door. He could really make a difference to our squad."