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Cape Town - SuperSport United winger Thuso Phala believes an off-season break as well as a proper pre-season period will prove beneficial ahead of 2018/19.
READ: Ajax Cape Town accept NFD fate
SuperSport have been involved in African club competition over the past three seasons which requires the side to keep playing during the traditional off-season period.
In 2017/18 Matsatsantsa won the MTN8 and reached the final of the CAF Confederations Cup where they lost to TP Mazembe. However, towards the end of the campaign the team were embroiled in a relegation battle.
United eventually ended in the top eight after Ajax Cape Town were docked points, however, Phala takes the view the previous season was largely positive though signs are good ahead of '18/19.
He told Kickoff: "I wouldn't say we had a bad season. We just had a roller-coaster season. If you ask any team to win you a cup, get to a CAF [Confed] final and still finish in the top eight, even though it's through a backdoor, no one can say it was a bad season.
"Of course we've had two off-season breaks where we never really rested due to the CAF games.
"So this is the first time in three years where we are having a proper pre-season. We had a month and a few days to rest, so now there are no excuses. I think the team came back fresh and we've played friendly games where we've done well.
"The management never changed (the squad) much even though we didn't have a good season. I think they kept the faith and trust in us and the coach (Kaitano Tembo) who was with us during the remaining games of last season."
