Birds must ‘put their bodies on the line’
SWALLOWS FC captain Lebohang Mokoena is adamant that his team will have to approach their final four games of the Premiership season as though they are cup finals.
The Dube Birds most recently recorded a hard fought come-frombehind 3-2 win over Baroka FC on Sunday.
“We had to throw everything at them. At one stage we had four strikers in the box, and it paid off for us. With the supporters being back after so many years, it was important to give them this victory,” Mokoena said.
“Them supporting us also motivated us as we knew that we had nothing to lose. Knowing where Baroka are on the log, we knew that it would be possible for us to get three points.”
Swallows’ next game against AmaZulu on Tuesday will be an interesting one as it will see them reuniting with former coach Brandon Truter for the first time since they sacked him in December.
Truter took charge of Usuthu on an interim basis in March, after the Durban-based club parted ways with Benni McCarthy.
“I want the guys to put their heads down, feet on the ground and understand that we must play each and every game as though it’s a Cup final. It does not matter who plays,” said Mokoena.
“They need to put their bodies on the line and understand that the team comes first. The guys don’t drop their heads. Even when we score three goals, we know that we are capable of scoring four. If it does not happen, it does not happen.”
Swallows are currently level on points with 15th-placed TS Galaxy, who occupy the second-last spot on the Premiership standings and are on course to compete in the PSL promotion/relegation playoffs.
As things stand, Baroka are bottom of the league and look destined for automatic relegation to GladAfrica Championship, as they are five points adrift of Galaxy.
Bakgaga have since demoted coach Kgoloko Thobejane to their reserve team, while promoting Vincent Kobola – who was Thobejane’s assistant coach – to the main coaching role.
Kobola faces a challenge to transform the fortunes of an outof-form club.
Their remaining fixtures are against Golden Arrows, Chippa United, SuperSport United and Maritzburg United.