Stars desperate to turn season around by sinking despondent Pirates
OWEN DA Gama admitted yesterday he was feeling the heat as Platinum Stars prepare to host Absa Premiership champions Orlando Pirates tomorrow with the threat of relegation hovering above.
Stars have plunged to 14th place in the standings, triggering claims that Da Gama’s job might be on the line, but the former Moroka Swallows striker reiterated there was nothing unusual about the speculation over his future.
“There’s no doubt that any coach finding himself in this position that we find ourselves, would be under pressure. And it’s the same with me. I understand why there’s speculation because we are not in a good position,” Da Gama stated.
Stars began the second round in the worst possible manner last week, surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose to Ajax Cape Town in the dying minutes, and in the process heightening the rumours about Da Gama’s position.
But he has backed his charges to bounce back tomorrow (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 7.30pm), as they face a Pirates side still smarting from a shock 3-1 first-leg defeat at the hands of Recreativo Libolo, of Angola, in the African Champions League.
“We were unlucky against Ajax because we lost the game in the last eight minutes. We were all to blame for that because we really should have closed shop. Even after Ajax had scored the first goal, we kept on attacking, when we could have defended our lead. But there were some positives in that we put up a fantastic performance.
“Tactically, we were spot on until one of our players got a red card and we couldn’t adjust quickly to that setback,” Da Gama explained.
He backed himself to haul the well-off North West side out of the rut which has seen them accumulate just 13 points from 16 games. “I trust myself to do well. Just look at my history.
“When I arrived at Bloemfontein Celtic, they were near the bottom of the log, but eventually they moved up. It was the same when I was at Pirates too. I’m confident that we’ll turn the corner.”
Da Gama will count on new recruits Lucas Thwala, Chiukepo Msowaya and Patrick Malokase to upset their former team after they were released by Pirates to the Phokeng side last month.
“I’m sure all of them are looking forward to the match. They are playing against their former teammates and I know from experience that there’s no motivation for a game like that. As a former player, I always looked forward to doing well against my former team,” Da Gama said.
If Stars win, they’ll move two places up to 12th, but that won’t mean they’re out of trouble yet. Da Gama admitted only a run of “two to three” succes- sive wins would pull them out of their misery
“We know we should have picked up the first win last week against Ajax, so we are not demoralised. We know we can play well and will turn the corner.”
Stars will be without the injured Robert Ng’ambi and Morgan Shivambu.
Pirates, meanwhile, have slumped to seventh place in the standings and will need a victory to keep in touch with the championship contenders, especially after the deflating loss to Recreativo at the weekend, for which captain Lucky Lekgwathi offered an apology yesterday.
“It was a terrible day for us,” Lekgwathi told the club’s website. “We disappointed our fans as they never expected us to lose at home by that margin. On behalf of the team, I want to apologise to the Ghost. They must not give up on us.”