In football... you cannot just go kamikaze, admits coach Troughton

A GOOD coach refuses to be a pie-in-the-sky dreamer, instead he’s a pragmatist capable of fully understanding the strengths and weaknesses within his squad. And it is within this frank assessment that he is able to plot and plan the way forward.

Stellenbosch FC coach Sammy Troughton is such a coach – and he found himself in a difficult situation at the start of the promotion playoff campaign. At stake for the Cape Winelands NFD club is a place in the PSL next season. Now, after two draws, Stellenbosch in both matches were second-best with regards to ball possession and territory, and they needed great character and courage to earn the point, Troughton has come under fire in some quarters for the team’s lack of ambition in attack.

The Western Cape side is back in action on Saturday when they are in Polokwane to face Baroka FC (3pm kickoff) – and, if they are to stand a chance of securing a spot in the PSL next season, then, somewhere or other, they are going to have to find a way to win.

But the question has to be asked: Do Stellenbosch have the necessary personnel to mount an all-out attacking onslaught as Black Leopards and Baroka have done so far? The answer is probably no.

Senegalese striker Mame Niang, a former PSL top-scorer, is the go-to man up front, but the team just hasn’t been able to play off him effectively enough. In short, they just do not have enough creativity nor the offensive players required to opt for such an approach.

Stellenbosch’s strengths are to be found in their defensive organisation, the tireless commitment of the players and the indomitable spirit of the squad as a whole.

As a coach, Troughton has had no choice but to harness this strength and formulate his game plan around it. So, while they may not have been all that enterprising in attack, they have not, as yet, lost a game in the competition. There is a positive in that – and, with two games remaining in the playoffs, there is still a lot to play for.

Looking forward to Saturday, the most important aspect for Troughton was the outcome of last night’s game between Leopards and Baroka. Once he has had time to assess that result, and the performances of the two opposing teams, only then can he set his men a target.

“In football, a coach has to see what he has available and then take it from there,” said Troughton. “It’s what you have in your squad that determines how you play. When I arrived at Stellenbosch, the aim was always to bring stability to the team. The most important thing was to shut the back door and then burgle a few wins at the other end – and it got to us to the playoffs.

“You cannot just go kamikaze… If you look at the game situation against Leopards last weekend, when they were inspired by the massive crowd they had behind them, then it was always going to be difficult. As a coach, you have to look at the conditions and play accordingly. I think if we had tried to play the same way as Leopards, as far as attack was concerned, we could have come unstuck. So we kept it tight and I was proud of the courageous effort of the players.”

Having said all that, though, Troughton is also keenly aware of the need for his team to snatch a win, if they are to achieve their goal of playing in the PSL.

The big loss for the team as they prepare for Baroka on Saturday, is experienced midfielder Diego Brown. The 30-year-old is suspended after being sent off (two yellow cards) in the previous match against Leopards. It means that Troughton will again have to reshuffle the pack as Stellenbosch attempt to keep their promotion challenge on track.

Remaining promotion play-off fixtures Saturday: Baroka v Stellenbosch (Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, 3pm) June 14: Stellenbosch v Black Leopards (Athlone Stadium, 3pm) June 17: Black Leopards v Baroka