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Losing is not an option, charges Kobola

Baroka interim coach Vincent Kobola has sent a stern message to his charges, saying losing a game in the final three matches of the season is not an option. Kobola started on a bright note breaking the Limpopo side’s four-game winless streak by defeating Golden Arrows 1-0 on Wednesday’s DStv Premiership match. Bonginkosi Makume scored the game’s only goal via a penalty in the 33rd minute.

While Kobola was happy with the victory, he demanded that his boys continue with the same fighting spirit and take each game as a “cup final” to stay in the South African topflight.

“For us, every game is a cup final now. For us to survive, we have to win all four games. Losing and drawing is not an option. Arrows is done; we are looking forward to the Chippa game. It’s not going to be easy playing away from home, but we’re prepared to fight hard and make the team survive relegation. The last three games will be tough. We need to be consistent,” Kobola said.

Bakgaga visits Chippa United in the Eastern Cape, and the Chilli Boys will know that a loss may see them slip back into the murky waters of relegation as they are just four points ahead of 15th placed Swallows. “It was a difficult game; we were desperate to get three points. I’m happy for the boys; they put in an effort and fought hard. We just had to maintain our shape.”

The former Cape Town City defender revealed that motivating the boys will be critical in surviving the drop. “It’s been long since we won a game. I can see the pressure and the fear in the boys’ eyes. We just had to encourage the boys more; we cannot change the tactics and formations now because we don’t want to confuse them. We have to tell them how special they are and how good they are so that they can do this.”

He admitted that the supporters’ presence in the stands played a pivotal role in their victory. “The supporters helped us; there was a stage where they pushed us. We felt their energy; we were not going to disappoint them,” Kobola added. Despite the victory, Bakgakga is still rooted at the bottom of the DStv Premiership table with 21 points from 27 matches, two points behind 15th place Swallows.

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