Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made a bold admission that sheds light on the club’s log standings in the tense Betway Premiership relegation battle.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa rose to 10th position on the Betway Premiership table after beating troubled Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Zimbabwean forward Daniel Msendami played a pivotal role in helping Gallants seal the win. Matome Mathiane and Msendami were the goal-scorers, respectively.
For The Glamour Boys, Glody Lilepo scored an early goal that turned out to be the team’s consolation goal. Chiefs, they have now gone for five league matches without a victory.
Nonetheless, Gallants’ coach Ouaddou, who faces tricky hurdles in the relegation dogfight, believes his team still lacks belief in their abilities.
With 30 points, Gallants are not out of the woods yet, but they have a massive four matches to play to ensure their survival. They are seven points ahead of 15th-placed Cape Town City FC.
WHAT GALLANTS COACH SAID ABOUT THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP RELEGATION FIGHT
Ouaddou admitted that his team’s lack of belief could turn out to be their biggest undoing in their bid to retain the premiership status.
“Our enemy is ourselves. As soon as we start to believe in ourselves, to play our games, to be strong, to be organised, to play together, to work as a team [we shoot ourselves in the foot with below par displays],” said Ouaddou.
“I think we can achieve a lot of things in that league. But what I want to say, I know on Saturday is a very difficult night for my colleague, [Nasreddine] Nabi.”
Asked about how Gallants chairman Abram Sello is planning to boost the players in their relegation fight, he said: “In that part, unfortunately, we will sit with the chairman and speak about that, about maybe the future. How we can build a strong team, you know?
“Like I told you, Bloemfontein deserves to have a strong team. About the team, of course, sometimes we discuss with the chairman.”
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