Moroka Swallows are determined to pull up their socks and end their slump to qualify for the MTN top 8 soccer competition next season.
Head coach Julio Leal had hoped for a top-three finish, but now the Birds are fighting to reach the top eight, starting with a crunch Absa Premiership showdown against relegation-haunted Thanda Royal Zulu at the Germiston Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.
The Birds went into a nose dive after losing 4-1 away to relegation-threatened Bloemfontein Celtic early last month and after a couple of Nedbank Cup wins, their form in the Premiership has seen the club, once considered as genuine title challengers, drop to 11th place.
The Birds’ assistant coach, Zeca Marques, admitted the slump had worried the technical staff, but added: ”We have addressed a lot of the problems during the 10 day break we had for the Fifa World Cup qualifiers. This was a much-needed break and we believe the rest has done the players the world of good and they will respond positively against Thanda.”
Marques also stated every match will now be vital, especially Sunday’s clash against troubled TRZ, which they will approach as a six-pointer.
Said Marques: ”We identified three major problem areas we had to rectify during the Fifa break. Firstly, the pressure got to the players after the success the club enjoyed in the first round of the league, and especially after beating both Soweto arch rivals, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, this year.
”The second was the travelling to and from Rustenburg for home matches at Olympia Park while the Germiston Stadium was unavailable, and thirdly was the injuries to key players, especially Brazilian central defenders, Vinicius da Silva and Davi Rancan, resulting in chopping and changing the starting line-up every week, which did not help.”
A big plus, however, is the form of striker Sandile ”AK 47” Ndlovu, particularly as his striker partner David Radebe is one of those whose form has dropped.
But added Marques: ”Radebe has looked a new player at training and he is set to return on Sunday rejuvenated.” — Sapa