HOTSEAT WITH COACH OWEN DA GAMA

OWEN Da Gama has warned our troops against complacency.

On Tuesday, the Rockets held Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 stalemate at Orlando Stadium.

Today, we will entertain Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium in the DSTV Premiership clash at 5pm.

Speaking with the media after our match against the Buccaneers, the well travelled mentor, Da Gama emphasized the importance of treating all the matches the same.

“It is a culture that we want to try and inculcate in the team that there are no small teams or big teams. You can get a result against Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns and get beaten by Black Leopards but you’ve lost the very same three points that you would have gained against other teams. I believe that this is going to be a hard game,” Da Gama elaborated.

Leopards are hovering in the throes of relegation with nine points after 13 games. They are currently 15th on the log.

“They also want to get out of the situation they are in. It is very difficult to play against the bottom teams. You try and figure out their tactical approach and tactical culture but you’ll find that their coach is gone. We don’t even know what Seema (Lehlohonolo) is going to plan against us. It makes it difficult to plan against these teams. When they loses, they change their tactics. There’s no specific tactical culture that you can try and analyze,” Da Gama detailed.

The lads are still unbeaten away from home in 2021. They have amassed four points out of possible six on the road having dispatched Maritzburg United 3-0 and drawn with the Sea Robbers 1-1.

“We will try and approach it the best possible way by using our strengths and whatever that they will plan and do, we should be able to come up with answers. This is going to be a hard game for us.” Da Gama stated.

our partners