SERAME UNDER DURESS
Brazilians could add to Celtic s woes
THEY can’t win, defend or take chances they create, so how on earth will struggling Bloemfontein Celtic stop Mamelodi Sundowns when they meet in Atteridgeville tomorrow?
Celtic coach Serame Letsoaka was quick to remind the media on Sunday, after a 2-1 defeat to Free State Stars, that he is the last coach to beat the Absa Premiership leaders in September, but he was in charge of a promising Golden Arrows team back then and Sundowns had not quite found their rhythm then.
“The last time Sundowns lost I was the coach. Maybe this will be the first time again Sundowns lose. That’s my answer,” said Letsoaka, who is under tremendous pressure at Celtic.
Fans now say they want him out of the team as soon as possible. To get them off his back, Letsoaka has to find a way to inspire a group of players who just do not look happy at the moment and need to start winning matches.
After their defeat to Ea Lla Koto on Sunday, players walked out of the dressing room in a straight line, with gloomy faces.
Celtic, in 12th place, cannot afford to keep dropping points because clubs below them are fighting hard for points. They are just seven points ahead of bottom side Maritzburg United with eight matches to go, while Jomo Cosmos and University of Pretoria are not too far behind as well.
“As a coach, those are things you look at. Two or three wins for other teams could see them surpassing us on the table. But the most important thing is to look at your team and make sure you get points for yourself. You cannot look at the other teams to lose against certain teams for you to survive. ”
Stars coach Giovanni Solinas, meanwhile, says Ea Lla Koto need one more victory to make sure they are safe from relegation.
“Our target has always been to survive. We need about three or four more points, then maybe after that we can change our target. We need another win.”