Mbongiseni Buthelezi
Witbank Spurs director Themba Mafu refused to look at the negative yesterday, saying Mpumalanga team will bounce back having made a terrible start to the National First Division season.
He believes that the disappointing start will soon be a thing of the past, even though they last won a match in September. Spurs have collected a measly four points in their nine matches thus far and are rooted to the bottom of the table.
In an attempt to get the team out of trouble, the club has made some changes to the technical team. Conti Kubheka, who had been in charge of the team from the start of the season, is now the technical director, while Bonga Mofokeng and Mogafe Phuti (Ria Stars) have been roped in as co-coaches.
Former team captain Humphrey Khaniel has been named the assistant coach.
Spurs face Atlie FC at Ackerville Stadium (kick-off at 3pm) and they are hoping new signing – former Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabang Rooi – will bring stability to their leaky defence, and inspire them to victory.
“He is in the team to fill the gap left by the defenders who left. We are happy to have him in the team. His experience will help us in our quest to move away from the drop zone.
“We do not know much about Atlie, but we will be out there to rectify the poor start of the season,” Mafu said.
United FC manager Richard Makhoba, meanwhile, confirmed that they have replaced Ethiopian coach Anteneh Eshete with former Carara Kicks mentor, Duncan Lechesa, as head coach.
The former Free State Stars player is the fifth coach in less than five months for the Kimberly-based team. Makhoba said the coaches know that they are hired to be fired. He said the team management will not think twice about firing a coach that is not producing good results. “The sponsors like to associate with the winning team. The coach who is not producing the results should be fired.
“We are not like Manchester United of England where they do not fire the coach and keep on saying things will get better. We hired Lechesa as we want to save the team from relegation and challenge for league honours. We believe that he will do the job. We do not want to go down. Life is hell in the Vodacom League and we do not to experience it,” he said.
United’s next match against Vasco da Gama was postponed until further notice.
Fixtures
Today: Chippa United v Dynamos, Charles Mopeli Stadium (7.30 pm)
Tomorrow: Carara Kicks v FC Cape Town, Phuthadijhaba Stadium (3.30pm); Witbank Spurs v Altie FC, Ackerville Stadium
Sunday: Rovers v Thanda Royal Zulu Buffalo City (3.30pm); FC AK v Black Aces Eldorado Park Stadium; Bay United v African Warriors Old Peter Mokaba Stadium (3pm); Sivutsa Stars v University of Pretoria KaNyamazane Stadium (3pm)