Veselin wary of slippery Rama-G
Celtic coach plots to halt City striker in TKO semifinal
Bloemfontein Celtic coach Veselin Jelusic has heaped praise on Rodney Ramagalela, saying the slippery Polokwane City striker will be the dangerman in their Telkom Knockout semifinal clash.
The Serbian tactician has been analysing the in-form goal poacher since the start of the season. Celtic will face off against “Rise and Shine” in the last-four cup tie at Peter Mokaba Stadium on November 19.
Ramagalela leads the scoring charts in the Premiership with six goals, with City fourth on the league table and one step away from the TKO final.
“He knows how to exploit weaknesses in the defence of teams and I have been very impressed with how he creates chances for his teammates,” Jelusic said.
“His link-up play with the other striker [Rendani Ndou] has been one of the best combinations in the league.”
Jelusic has been working hard in training to prepare for the crucial cup clash.
The coach, though, will be planning to thwart the whole team wit the focus not only on “Rama-G”, as Ramagalela is known. “I have watched a few Polokwane games and I have seen how they are dangerous in attack, but they can also defend well and absorb pressure.”
Rama-G bagged the PSL Player and Goal of the Month for October for his strike in City’s 2-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Jelusic was awarded the Coach of the Month gong during the presentation ceremony in Johannesburg yesterday.
The former Sundowns and Black Leopards striker is pleased to be clicking with his strike partner Ndou, who has bagged three goals so far.
“Rendani and I are like brothers – we always talk football. When we go to camp we always share a room, so we have a good understanding,” Ramagalela said.
“It makes it easier when we go on the field because we know what we are going to do. Every time I get the ball I tell him to go inside the box.”