Bucks vow to put brake on faltering run
HAVE Mthatha Bucks begun their descent to the danger zone of the NFD log-standings? Their goalkeeper coach Postnet Omony disagrees.
However, the results tell a different story with Bucks having failed to win in four matches on the trot.
The string of poor results, worsened by Bucks’ 1-0 loss to Cape Town All Stars on Sunday, are in direct contradiction to how they started the campaign like a house on fire with two convincing wins, home and away.
As such, due to their good start, they enjoyed the summit position of the NFD table for some three weeks.
Following two draws and two losses, they have since slipped to the eighth position as their downward spiral continues unabated.
But Omony believes now is not the time to rush to the panic button, although what separates Bucks and the first relegation position 15, is a mere three points.
According to him, their woes are problems that would visit any club which is two years old in the second tier. But what could be the justification of this string of poor results?
“We have not begun our descent but what is happening to us is just football,” said Omony.
“We are a team that is growing and with just two years in the NFD we are bound to encounter challenges from time to time.”
Omony, however, conceded that a “little bit” of complacency on their part may be to blame, particularly for their two losses – at the hands of Jomo Cosmos and now All Stars.
The two sides collected maximum points at the expense of Bucks when they were struggling to fight off relegation, but the Mthatha outfit gave them hope and became their stepladder up the log.
As such, Cosmos who are now in third place, were winless before meeting Bucks late last month, but following their 1-0 victory over the Mthatha side, EzeNkosi Yami went on to achieve three successive victories with the biggest of those being a 4-1 drubbing of AmaZulu on Sunday.
This past Sunday, All Stars also registered their first win of the season and they moved from rock bottom to 15th place.
And their provider was Bucks who seem to bring the lucky charm to strugglers if the Cosmos story is anything to go by.
It therefore should not surprise football followers if All Stars go on to collect maximum points in their next two matches.
But exactly what has gone wrong at Bucks: is it the defence or attack that is failing?
Omony said it would be wrong to point a finger at a single department.
The stats say the fault is mostly at the back for Bucks after conceding six goals in four matches while scoring four in the process, which could have been enough had they not conceded.
To arrest the situation, said Omony, the next match against Mbombela United on Saturday should be a mustwin for Bucks to avoid a repeat of last season when they were fighting relegation for the better part of the campaign. —