Maduka explains the ‘difference’ in managing Letsoalo-less Royal AM

Royal AM head coach John Maduka has revealed how he has found managing a side without a consistent centre forward like the former club’s striker Victor Letsoalo.

During Maduka’s first spell with Thwihli Thwahla, the 29-year-old striker was in fine form, banging goals and he helped the team finish in the second position in the league.

He was also the runner-up in the golden boot race after he scored 15 goals in the league and 17 across all competitions.

Letsoalo was then linked with various clubs including Kaizer Chiefs who reportedly failed to acquire him. He ended up joining his home province side Sekhukhune United.

Meanwhile, Maduka had also left AM for Maritzburg United after he wasn’t on good terms with some of the management members of the club.

Having returned to Letsoalo-less Royal AM, he says it’s no longer the same because they don’t have the kind of striker who scores week in and week out.

He added that he has to deal with that by getting the best out of the three centre forwards he has at his disposal.

ROYAL AM COACH JOHN MADUKA ON VICTOR LETSOALO

“Of course, we [no longer] have Letsoalo but we still have Macuphu, Sera, and Gamildien as well,” Maduka told the media.

“And of course, players are different. Letsoalo was different that he could score each and every week, the consistency was there in him.

“So, for us as coaches is to make sure that we try to motivate those players, prepare them so that they are also consistent.

“Because if you look at the league itself or in South African football, it’s difficult to find strikers that will score each and every game. 

“It’s up to the coaches to make sure that we work with whatever we have and try to bring the best out of them.”

In this campaign, Royal AM have scored 22 goals in all competitions while they scored 50 last season.

Meanwhile, Maduka has won both games since his re-appointment at the club.

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