Kruger United head coach Abram Mongoya believes the key to surviving their maiden Betway Premiership season lies in immediate psychological adaptation rather than tactical overhauls.
The club from Mpumalanga are in their debut Betway Premiership season after earning automatic qualification by being crowned Motsepe Foundation Championship winners last term. A 3-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at Mbombela Stadium last Saturday marked a losing start to their top-flight campaign.
The Village Boys now prepare to visit Marumo Gallants for their second league game on Tuesday. They will be pushing to pick their first set of maximum points of the season.
For a team that is new to Betway Premiership football, Mongoya does not want to see his team being mentioned as relegation candidates. Some of Kruger’s new signings include goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, who is on loan from Chiefs, Katlego Mohamme, former Orlando Pirates star Kwanda Mngonyama and Thabang Sibanyoni.
HOW ABRAM MONGOYA IS PLOTTING KRUGER UNITED’S SAFE PATH AWAY FROM RELEGATION
Mongoya was in charge of Kruger United last season and helped them gain promotion from the National First Division. Speaking to FARPost, he details how he plans to see his side avoid the dreaded chop this term.
“The mandate is simple. Save the status, make sure we stay in the big league, play with the big boys and test ourselves against the big boys throughout the season. So, the mandate is clear and simple: save the status and finish as high as possible away from the relegation zone,” Mongoya told FARPost.
“Not at any point should the club feel the possibility of being relegated. It’s important for us to settle down as soon as possible. I’m sure that way we will be able to save ourselves from the burden of fighting for survival.
“We are new in the league, and there is a lot for us to learn, and we will push hard to achieve our mandate of saving our status.”
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