Former DStv Premiership star reveals text message he sent Herve Renard
A former DStv Premiership star has revealed the text message he sent Herve Renard after the coach led Saudi Arabia to a famous win over Argentina while outlining what he expects against Poland.
Renard has hit FIFA World Cup 2022 headlines in Qatar following Monday’s giant-killing act when Saudi Arabia rallied from one down to beat two-time World champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening Group C match.
Davies Nkausu, a former SuperSport United and Zambia defender, is very familiar with the well-respected Renard.
Nkausu played under Renard in two stints, with the second one seeing them win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title with Chipolopolo in Libreville, Gabon, in 2012.
Renard’s Saudi Arabia is back in action on Saturday, November 26, when they face Poland in their penultimate Group C fixture.
THE TEXT MESSAGE
“I’m sure he is going approach them the same way he approached Argentina without fear or respecting them,” Nkausu told FARPost.
“I SMSed him after the game just to congratulate him and let him know we are behind him, you know, and he appreciated that.”
The legendary Frenchman won two AFCONs with Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire in 2015 and later took Morocco to the 2018 World Cup in Russia in what was also his debut Mundial.
“What can I say about the coach and what he’s doing with all these teams he has coached?” Nkausu, who also played for Baroka, AmaTuks, Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic asked.
“It is not luck but God’s grace because he really believes in God. I mean, going back to 2012 when we were in camp, every day he will remind us after dinner, ‘guys, don’t forget your prayers, and it helped us’.”
Saudi Arabia heads into the Poland game, hoping to advance to the knockout round with a match to spare for the first time since USA 1994.
Renard’s side currently leads Group C on 3 points, two points more than Poland and Mexico, with the latter in action against bottom-place Argentina in Saturday evening’s last kickoff.
RELATED STORY: Saudi Arabia’s shock win evokes Renard’s ‘luck’ white shirt memories