Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Swallows are flying dangerously low
RELEGATION-THREATENED Swallows FC will sink further towards danger unless they can turn their season around with a string of wins.
The Dube Birds needed a stoppage time Wandisile Letlabika equaliser to rescue a point against Stellenbosch last time out, the kind of result that has little contribution to their overall ambitions of staying in the division.
Swallows have won just one of their last 15 games in the DStv Premiership and just two the entire season. Coach Dylan Kerr’s troops are one point above 15th-placed Baroka FC, who have a game in hand over them.
Twenty-nine points have been enough to guarantee any side’s safety in the last six campaigns. The Birds are on 15 points with 11 games remaining, three of which they play at home against relegation rivals TS Galaxy, Baroka and Chippa United.
The Dobsonville based club’s woes could largely be attributed to their lack of cutting edge in front of goal. Swallows have scored just 11 goals in 19 league matches, the lowest in the league.
Their shortage of goals may be linked to the form of striker Ruzaigh Gamildien. After his failed move to Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, the Cape Town-born marksman has been a shadow of his former self.
Confidence, speed and good finishing are terms usually associated with the Swallows number 9. His rich vein of form of last season prompted a number of teams to come calling for the frontman’s signature and later a call-up to the national team. Gamildien ended the previous campaign with 11 goals, seven of which came in the opening 10 matches, a stark contrast to his two strikes so far this season.
The visit of Galaxy this weekend provides Kerr’s men with the perfect opportunity to mount a serious climb up the table. Bottom-placed Galaxy themselves will be eyeing this relegation six-pointer and will be very confident going into it, as an opportunity to complete the double over a direct rival looms. |