South African Aston Villa fans back their team's Premier League performance

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are on course to nail down a Champions League spot and are gunning for one of their best finishes in the Premier League in years. But teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool stand in their way.

Villa fans from South Africa, though, are optimistic that their team can defeat any team on their day.

Aston Villa remaining fixtures

Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Sunday, 14 April, 17:30

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth, Sunday, 21 April, 16:00

Aston Villa vs Chelsea, Saturday, 27 April, 21:00

Brighton vs Aston Villa, Saturday, 4 May, 16:00

Aston Villa vs Liverpool, Monday, 13 May, 21:00

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa, Sunday, 19 May, 17:00

Can Aston Villa hold their nerve and secure Champions League football this season?

The chairman of the South African Villans Supporters Club, Ross Hussey, certainly seems to think so.
Having watched his team go from strength to strength this season, Hussey doesn’t see a reason why Villa won’t secure a top five finish to secure topflight European football this season.

“We always knew Villa were a sleeping giant and we are very pleased to see it awoken by our manager Unai Emery. He has done a remarkable job with our club this season,” Hussey tells Showmax Premier League.

Standing in their way of a top five finish is the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, who will both be desperate to secure all three points against Villa as they gun for the Premier League title this season.

But Hussey isn’t too concerned by the challenges posed by the “big boys” of the Premier League.
He is relishing the challenge, starting this weekend, when Villa takes on Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

The game, which will be shown live on Showmax Premier League, is a high-stakes game, with both teams desperate to grab all three points.

Arsenal will be looking to remain on top of the table, while Villa will push for a win to continue their challenge for a top five finish.

“We don't care about other clubs,” says Hussey. “Other clubs should be concerned about us. We have already taken points off the so called ' big clubs' this season. Our approach for every game is to take all three points. The title contenders for this season will have to be at their best if they want to take a result from our fixtures with them.”

Hussey is confident of a top four finish and is hoping that their fine form this season will see them leapfrog Spurs into fourth place: “If we hold our composure and avoid injuries when we play our PL and Conference League fixtures. I’m confident we will finish in the top four.”

Villa have already secured points against the big boys of the Premier League, with Villa claiming scalps against Chelsea, a double against Spurs, as well as massive scalps against Arsenal, and Man City. Hussey says the game of the season has to be their 1-0 win against Man City at Villa Park. Leon Bailey scored the only goal of the game, in a game which Villa dominated from start to finish.

“We ran them off the park,” says Hussey.

Hussey has also singled out striker Ollie Watkins as Villa’s player of the year.

“In my opinion our player of the season has to be Ollie Watkins. He has 18 goals this season with zero penalties scored. There is no doubt his contribution to the side has helped hugely.”

Hussey is one of thousands of Villa fans in South Africa. The team has a huge following in South Africa and Africa, with the SA supporters club having official ties and affiliation with the club in Birmingham, UK.
Hussey started the club several years ago.

“South Africa is an immense country, not only with its size but with its beauty. We needed a central beacon for Villa fans around country to connect and such the supporters club was born. We have members all across the country who have supported the club for decades and helped new supporters settle into The Villa tradition seamlessly.

“We have also helped our communities with numerous charitable events in different parts of the country. We have our HQ in Durban, where we have occasional meet ups for games when members are available as well as a sporadic meet ups in Joburg and Cape Town.”

Hussey himself has been supporting Villa since he was a child. “My love for The Villa began when I was about five years old. I still remember seeing their unique name and their claret and blue colours radiate from the TV screen and so it happened, from love at first sight I was smitten with this giant football club and have followed them ever since. My support for them has never waivered even through our turmoil and has shone out when we have a successful period.”

Hussey is now looking forward to the game on Sunday and will be hoping his team take all three points against league leaders Arsenal.

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