Bucks must clip Eagles’ wings come what may
Palmer urges team to gun for maximum points
MTHATHA Bucks are gunning to steal maximum points when they take on Royal Eagles at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg today.
Bucks will be coming back from the international break following their unfortunate 1-0 loss at home to Stellenbosch FC.
They will therefore be looking to prove their doubters wrong and show their followers they still deserve their loyalty.
Royal Eagles have won one game, drawn three and lost two and are now on six points and at 12th position on the log, while Amathol’amnyama have won two games, drawn three and lost one for a tally of nine points and in third place.
Bucks coach Ian Palmer said it was important for his charges to come back stronger and today would be the perfect time for that, so everybody could forget about their loss against the log-leaders.
“We need to bounce back as quickly as possible, the boys have to show character,” he said.
“Because if you lose, there will always be regrets and one thing I strongly believe in, is that if you want to heal a wound, stop touching it.
“So now we forget about the past and we are focused on tod match which can be our quickest way to bounce back so our fans can also forget about our previous result.
“We have Shane Thompson and Lucky Mathosi injured and those are our key players who are out. Siya Mngoma is coming back from the injury.”
Palmer said Mathosi, who is a vicious attacker alongside the goalscoring machine Mpho Erasmus, started training with the team on Thursday and was looking good.
“He’s back In training and remember, he started with us without having a pre-season, so we still need to work on his fitness.
“There’s one or two players who will get an opportunity to play today and I think it’s important for them prove themselves. And the whole squad need to bounce for the supporters as well because our supporters have been fantastic. Even after our loss [at home], they still supported us and we have had a good response from them on social media as well.
“So the players should do the supporters proud and get maximum points today.”
Palmer admitted that his strikers reaction was slow during their last game.
“In the first half, we were slow and I think we are a little bit better now.
“Mpho [Erasmus] could have closed two or more chances which is normal for a striker, because there’s too much weight on his shoulders.
“I always say our wide and attacking players they should come and score, scoring can't be the duty of strikers only.”
Palmer said his defence was still not tampered with but he was hoping that the former Orlando Pirates player Mashale Rantabane – who is rock solid at the back with aerial strength – would be ready to play in the game today as he was not feeling too well yesterday.