Masina: Our plan to escape
On Free State Stars’ next two games
We play Polokwane City today (wednesday) and it is a very important game for us because of the situation that we find ourselves in. We are in the relegation zone and it is very important for us to win tonight because we want to move away from there as quickly as we can. We have to win the game tonight, though, before we can even start thinking about the next game. Two to three wins in a row will take us to 10th or ninth on the log table. We just have to keep our feet on the ground and grind out results. They are a good side and, just like us, they have a very good coach in Jozef Vukusic, who happens to be our coach, Nikola Kavazovic’s home boy. It will be an interesting game of football, but a must-win for us. It will be after tonight’s game that we will start thinking and preparing for the game against SuperSport United. That will be another tough game for us because SuperSport have seemingly turned the corner. They have been getting results lately and will be very difficult to break down. But we don’t have a choice, we have to save ourselves and the only way for us to do that would be through winning games. We are only thinking of six points this week because we are playing two games and we have to collect three points from each of them. All the games are not easy now because everybody is fighting everywhere on the log table. We at the bottom want to run away from relegation and those mid-table are fighting for a Top Eight spot, while at the top, they are fighting for honours. There is not even one game that is easy, and it doesn’t matter where the opposition are on the log.
On the plan to escape relegation
Well, the plan can be there on paper, but the most important thing is to transfer it onto the field of play. Our plan is that we are dividing the games and grouping them into three. It makes it easy for us to work towards three games and then look at another three. But the plan is not a plan if it’s not executed on the field of play. We need to be more ruthless in front of goal. We have done well so far in terms of scoring – we scored three in the Free State derby and two against Black Leopards. That is a motivation, even though we didn’t win against Leopards. The good thing is that we are getting on the score sheet. We create a lot of chances every game we play, but we need to do that in every match. The Free State derby was a game of two halves and it could have gone either way, but we managed to win it. We just need to execute this three-game plan well. If we can win the first three, starting tonight, and if we do what we have to do, all of a sudden, we will be safe from relegation. It is very hard to gain promotion to the Absa Premiership, so we will do everything to make sure that it doesn’t get to the point of relegation. We are not going down. We will fight with everything we have. We will survive this situation. Maritzburg United are fighting hard below us, so we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. So, the plan to escape relegation is to win more games. It is in our hands and we want to do it. The good thing about this season is that the difference in points is not big. If you look at the table, teams from number nine to the bottom are all not safe. That gives us hope that we will turn our fortunes around. Everybody will be grinding results now and there are eight games to play, with so much that can still happen. But in all that, Free State Stars will be playing in the Absa Premiership next season…
On the message from the coach
The coach is always positive and motivates us. He always tells us that we must try by all means to follow his instructions and work towards getting better in front of goals. He always tells us that to win a football game you need to score goals. We are very fortunate to have him as our coach because he is always positive and that creates a good spirit in the team. We are in high spirits because of the vibe that coach Nikola creates in the team. He always tells us that we need to relax and just follow his instructions. There are still more games to play and a lot can still happen.
On losing Jantjie at the end of the season
Losing a player of his calibre will be a massive blow for Free State Stars. We will miss him, not only for his playing exploits, but for his off-field personality as well, as he is one of the best people to be around. He is very professional… I mean, if it had not been announced, people wouldn’t know that he has signed a pre-contract elsewhere. He is very professional about it and gives his all for the team. He is in good form and is willing to die for the team. You don’t get players like him often and he will be missed, but life has to go on. Everybody, including the club management, has given him their blessings and we will all be happy to see him doing well for Bidvest Wits. We have already told him though that he must not run hard against us. He must take it easy whenever he comes up against us, ha, ha, ha.
On who he thinks will win the league
I think it has been one of the most difficult titles to win and whoever wins it will have sweated blood for it. But looking at the race and all the contenders, if I were to bet, then I would put my money on Mamelodi Sundowns. Even though the teams up there have never been consistent in terms of winning back-to-back games, Sundowns have gone many games without a defeat and have had a period where they managed to register four wins in a row, something that has not happened very often this season. Yes, Orlando Pirates and Wits will give them a run for their money, but I think they will win it eventually.