The coach of NFD strugglers Mthatha Bucks, Velile Dyaloyi is adamant his side won’t be relegated, despite the fact they are second from the bottom with 12 matches to go to the end of the season.
Dyaloyi’s arrival in the Bucks hotseat three months ago seemed to have brought about a resurgence of sorts, with the club going four league matches without a defeat.
But all that appears to have come to an end, at least for now, after back-to- back losses on the road and a home draw against AmaZulu at the weekend.
Dyaloyi maintains that the misfiring in front of goals was “just bad luck” for the team, and believes that “there is a sign that Mthatha Bucks will survive relegation”. The NFD rookies have only 12 matches left between this coming weekend and May 22 with which to climb the rankings.
The Bucks mentor announced that going forward his side would adopt an all-attack strategy, saying “there is nothing to defend; it is a do-or-die for us because 12 matches is rather tight”.
“Time flies and now with 12 matches left, we are left with no choice but to attack and attack more in all our remaining games.”
Dyaloyi said he could not place the blame for the lack of results on his players, “Because in a game of football you win some and lose some, and when it is not your day then it is not”.
“When we do not get a win, I have to be a father and offer my players a shoulder to cry on, and we soldier on together, but I am happy because my players are working hard and showing commitment; all we need is that bit of luck to score.”
Looking cool and collected for a coach whose club are under pressure and facing the dreaded relegation axe, Dyaloyi said he was looking forward to his next challenge, taking on Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville, as the game “is one of those I like”.
His confidence stems from the Dube Birds’ shambles at the back, having conceded in almost every match, but “Veza” warned that they must not be underestimated.
Bucks, interestingly, registered their first victory against Swallows, in December last year. But for Dyaloyi that counts for nothing as Swallows – currently last in the standings – are also fighting to avoid relegation.
Dyaloyi said: “Our job is to go out there, fight for maximum points and die on the field, if that is what it takes.
“An attacking-style of football is the only answer, but we need our midfielders to push forward to support the strikers and take risks.”
Meanwhile, AmaZulu coach Steve Barker is confident that his side’s chances of returning to the first tier next season are good. The stalemate against Bucks was the result of “just a mental problem” that the team could work on to overcome. “There is no reason why we cannot push for promotion, and who knows maybe Baroka will wobble along the way and we can put pressure on them.”
AmaZulu, in mid-table, have 29 points, 10 adrift of Baroka.
Bucks set to fight for all their worth
Dyaloyi’s arrival in the Bucks hotseat three months ago seemed to have brought about a resurgence of sorts, with the club going four league matches without a defeat.
But all that appears to have come to an end, at least for now, after back-to- back losses on the road and a home draw against AmaZulu at the weekend.
Dyaloyi maintains that the misfiring in front of goals was “just bad luck” for the team, and believes that “there is a sign that Mthatha Bucks will survive relegation”. The NFD rookies have only 12 matches left between this coming weekend and May 22 with which to climb the rankings.
The Bucks mentor announced that going forward his side would adopt an all-attack strategy, saying “there is nothing to defend; it is a do-or-die for us because 12 matches is rather tight”.
“Time flies and now with 12 matches left, we are left with no choice but to attack and attack more in all our remaining games.”
Dyaloyi said he could not place the blame for the lack of results on his players, “Because in a game of football you win some and lose some, and when it is not your day then it is not”.
“When we do not get a win, I have to be a father and offer my players a shoulder to cry on, and we soldier on together, but I am happy because my players are working hard and showing commitment; all we need is that bit of luck to score.”
Looking cool and collected for a coach whose club are under pressure and facing the dreaded relegation axe, Dyaloyi said he was looking forward to his next challenge, taking on Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville, as the game “is one of those I like”.
His confidence stems from the Dube Birds’ shambles at the back, having conceded in almost every match, but “Veza” warned that they must not be underestimated.
Bucks, interestingly, registered their first victory against Swallows, in December last year. But for Dyaloyi that counts for nothing as Swallows – currently last in the standings – are also fighting to avoid relegation.
Dyaloyi said: “Our job is to go out there, fight for maximum points and die on the field, if that is what it takes.
“An attacking-style of football is the only answer, but we need our midfielders to push forward to support the strikers and take risks.”
Meanwhile, AmaZulu coach Steve Barker is confident that his side’s chances of returning to the first tier next season are good. The stalemate against Bucks was the result of “just a mental problem” that the team could work on to overcome. “There is no reason why we cannot push for promotion, and who knows maybe Baroka will wobble along the way and we can put pressure on them.”
AmaZulu, in mid-table, have 29 points, 10 adrift of Baroka.
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