Chiefs will keep grinding away
TSHABALALA: WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR OWN COURSE
Concern over a dearth of goals from the team’s strikers.
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala said all their fans want from the team is happiness and at least one trophy.
Having gone two seasons without silverware, Amakhosi fans fear the shame which will befall them should the team finish the current campaign empty-handed.
“The message from our supporters is pretty clear and simple: ‘we want trophies and we want you to win games and make us happy. Win us at least one this season’,” said Tshabalala this week.
There is hope however with the team showing some resilience and fighting spirit in the past few games and the last-gasp win over Free State Stars on Wednesday reignited their hopes in the Absa Premiership title chase.
But Shabba is realistic about their Premiership chances and hopes the team will again grind out a result when they host Chippa United at FNB Stadium at 3.30pm this afternoon.
“We are in a difficult situation,” said the 33-year-old defender, set to renew his stay at Naturena for another two years. “There are two teams above us who have a good gap on us. So we just have to focus on our own course. We had a great match at Free State Stars and it was a much-needed win. There are five games to go and a lot that can still happen between now and the end of the season,” he said.
“We cannot affect what happens with the other teams and need to manage our own games and control results. We needed that win and we will take confidence from it into the match against Chippa because we need to do well and get three points in that one as well.”
A worry though for Amakhosi is their low scoring rate and the fact that in the past three matches defenders have had to rescue the team from possible draws.
“If goals don’t come through open play you have to resort to set-places and be deadly there. We do create chances but fail to convert so we have to be sharper in set-pieces.
“Football is a game of 90 minutes and there is some time added as well. You can score in the first minute or the last. The game is not over until the referee whistles for the end.
“You need to keep going and grind out the results. We have been doing it quite well lately.”