HOTSEAT WITH COACH DAN MALESELA

TS Galaxy head coach, Dan Malesela has empathized the importance of refining our goal scoring woes.

Tomorrow we have the date with Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium at 7.30pm in the DSTV Premiership.

The Rockets have created more chances but the ability to convert our chances in to goals hasn’t been flawless.

Malesela is aware of that conundrum. He spoke with TS Galaxy website about that game.

TS Galaxy (TSG): Coach, how has been the re-action after our first defeat against Stellenbosch?

Dan Malesela (DM): Obviously, it is a bitter pill to swallow that we lost our last game (against Stellenbosch) but having said that, we have to find solutions. Our main problem has been goal scoring. The defence is not so sad. The goal that was scored would have beaten many keepers. We need to improve our goal scoring.

We are trying to encourage all the attacking players to take the responsibility of goal scoring because if we are going to question them only, it is going to be difficult for them. I don’t think many clubs rely on strikers in our league. We all need to take responsibility. Even the defenders must take responsibility of goal scoring when they go up for set plays. They need to have that attitude.

TSG: What kind of a match are you expecting from Sundowns?

DM: It is going to be a very difficult match considering that these are the league champions. But we have to put that aspect of respect aside. When you are competing in the same league, you have to put that aside and match each other. That’s what we will be doing. Knowing how Sundowns play, it will be an open game. On the day, the better team will win. We are really expecting a tough encounter.

TSG: Coach, we are yet to lose away from home. You’ve seem to have instilled the mentality of competitiveness within our squad.

DM: If you start thinking about drawing, playing not to lose away from home or seating backing, it is going to be a problem, you may lose some of the valuable points that you would have collected. As the season grows teams become stronger and stronger. Opposition teams will become wiser. You sometimes rely on luck which is what sometimes you don’t like. We want to build as early as possible so that by the time the season hot up, the team has gelled. You just worry about the break that we will have during the Christmas period. It has been there and it is there for everybody.

We need to collect as much points as possible. If we can get some point now in the two matches that are coming up. It is all good. If you get six or four points for me, it is fine. We have that big block that is coming in January.

We will be playing crazy, crazy matches in January. You don’t need to pressure yourself with those matches. At least go in to the break with some relief or some comfort. We want to go in to the break with confidence.

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