No easy ride for Baroka in top flight

IT HASN’T taken rookies Baroka long to realise that the top flight is totally different to playing knockout competition football. While they were in the lower leagues, Baroka swept aside the likes of Moroka Swallows, Kaizer Chiefs, Chippa United and Golden Arrows in the Nedbank Cup. But it has now not been an easy ride in the Absa Premiership for the rookies, who have registered just one point in their three matches so far. They succumbed to their second straight defeat following a 2-0 loss to Bidvest Wits at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday. Coach Kgoloko Thobejane, however, believes they will start moving up the table once they get their first victory. “Once we get the first three points, then it’s our beginning to conquer everything. These boys are playing, no doubt. I promise we will bounce back.”

“I can’t say it’s getting tough. We are working very hard. Luck is not on our side. Every time we play, our opponents get simple goals and we are trying to address it.”

Baroka will face Platinum Stars at Royal Bafokeng on Saturday (3pm).

Meanwhile, Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler believes his side are showing signs of a good team but will need to be consistent to do well.

Speaking after the goalless draw against Orlando Pirates in which they dominated, Tinkler said all his team needs now is to play well throughout the 90 minutes rather than in patches.

“We definitely struggled against Wits [3-0 loss in the MTN8] and we didn’t put on a good performance. Our first-half performance against Golden Arrows [2-0 loss in the league] wasn’t great either.

“[But] the performance [against Pirates] was phenomenal; it means we are getting back on track.”

City will next face Ajax in the Cape Town derby tomorrow (8pm).