Davids hopes to build on midweek win
Coach wants right frame of mind for Baroka encounter
Maritzburg will be looking for another win when they welcome Baroka to the Harry Gwala Stadium tonight [8pm] after a long winless run. The Team of Choice started off well this season with two league wins in a row, but were without victory in eight before beating Cape Town City 4-2 in their midweek clash at Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday.
Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids is delighted that their bad run has come to an end.
“Yeah, I said it to the players. It’s about supporting them, they are young players and most of them are in their second season in the PSL.
“It’s always about supporting them and shielding them from the media, shielding them from the pressure. I will take the pressure, it’s no problem,” Davids said.
“They were still playing fantastically well even though they weren’t scoring.
“It’s credit to them for having the perseverance and really coming out with a performance like that even when they were 1-0 down to have the character to come back.”
Davids, however, said he hoped his young squad was not going to get overexcited after their win against City and should be in the right frame of mind for the Baroka clash.
“We have to keep our feet on the ground and with a young squad, they can get excited. They got excited by the praise and the football we were playing at the beginning of the season and it’s my job to keep them calm, to keep them focused.
“It’s a new game. Baroka is a fantastic team and they have a fantastic coach who allows the players to express themselves,” Davids added.
Baroka mentor Kgoloko Thobejane has his own challenges to deal with as his team has gone six games without victory.
They were hammered 4-0 by log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday.