Coach in bid to fight relegation
HIGHLANDS Park caretaker coach Les Grobler has urged his players to be brave ahead of two crucial relegation six-pointers for the side currently propping up the Absa Premiership table.
The Tembisa-based club have 22 points from their 27 matches this season‚ one less than both Baroka FC (who have a game in hand) and Free State Stars‚ and two behind Chippa United.
Next up for Highlands is a home game with Chippa on Friday‚ before they travel to Baroka on May 17.
Two victories would be massive for their survival hopes‚ especially as they host title-chasing Mamelodi Sundowns on the final day of the campaign.
“We have got to look at the next two matches as winnable games‚ if we don’t we might as well pack it in now‚” Grobler said.
“The players have to believe they can win those and they have to be brave enough to go out there and play positive football.”
Grobler is part of a three-man technical team leading the side following the axing of Gordon Igesund at the end of last month‚ with Thierry Mulonzo and Stavros Tsichlas also part of the brains trust.
They lost 1-0 at Platinum Stars on Sunday after a goal in the 87th minute from Robert Ng’ambi.
Grobler says they had targeted seven points from their final four games for what they felt would be safety‚ and the only thing that has changed now is that they have one less game to achieve it.
“We haven’t changed things drastically since we took over‚ we have just made small adjustments to how we play.
“We know that draws are probably not going to be good enough for us so we need to be brave and make decisions on the field that are going to help us score goals.
“We need the players to go out and fight.”
Grobler feels his side‚ along with the other relegation candidates‚ have actually been playing quite well in recent weeks‚ but as is often the case for strugglers‚ luck has deserted them.
“I can say that all of the teams at the bottom of the league have not been playing badly‚ it is just sometimes that final pass or shot on goal is poor.
“But we need gutsy performances‚ we need to make things happen for ourselves.”
There is plenty of experience in the Highlands camp with the likes of goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini‚ Surprise Moriri‚ Eddy Ngalo‚ Collins Mbesuma and Franklin Cale all seasoned campaigners.
“The senior players have come to the party‚” Grobler says.
“The have embraced the changes that we have made and we do ask them for their suggestions too so that we are all on the same wavelength.”
The potential for having to fight for their lives on the final day of the campaign at home to Sundowns is a daunting one‚ but Grobler says it could be a good time to play the Brazilians.
“If [BidVest] Wits have won the league by the time that game comes along then Sundowns could well have their focus elsewhere‚ on the Champions League for example.
“If they are still in the league title contention then there will be pressure for them too‚ and it is may be a case of if you have a go at them‚ you can get something from the game. “Or you could get a hiding!” Grobler says at the end of the day the coaches put together the best laid plans‚ but the responsibility to execute comes down to the players.
“I am not a miracle worker and neither are Stavros or Thierry.
“You can train‚ plan‚ give team talks‚ drill the players as hard as you can‚ but ultimately it comes down to what they do on the day.
“One slip here or there could cost you everything.
“But the players know that‚ they know that they are fighting for their jobs because if we get relegated‚ what are the chances that they will be signed by a PSL team? “Some might and some won’t. “That is what they are fighting for.” — TMG