BLOEMFONTEIN: Pressure is mounting on the Marumo Gallants to break their winless streak going into a Premier Soccer League (PSL) fixture against lackluster Chippa United on Sunday, 19 October. This crucial match is scheduled to take place at the Dr R.P. Molemela Stadium. Kick-off is at 15:00.
The Gallants are seeking their third win, and the visitors their second win, in the league going into the upcoming fixture. The winless run has seen the local lads descend on the league table. They are among the eight teams languishing in the bottom half of the log, as is Chippa. Both sides are desperate to change their misfortunes in the league.
Rooted at the foot of the league with six points, Chippa, led by Luc Eymael, could surprise the hosts if they become complacent. The hosts are nestled in 11th position, with 10 points, under head coach Alexandre Lafitte.
Under the Frenchman, the Gallants have managed to record just two wins and four draws in the nine league fixtures played thus far. The four draws were against giants Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orbit College and Polokwane City. These matches all ended 1 − 1. In the process, they suffered narrow 0 − 1 defeats against Siwelele, Stellenbosch and AmaZulu.
The Lafitte-led charges’ last win in the league at home in Bloemfontein was a 2 − 1 victory against Orlando Pirates, while their first away win was a 2 − 1 triumph over Richards Bay.
Both matches were played in August, and the results signalled a good start for the Frenchman in South Africa’s top-flight league.
However, the clock is ticking for Lafitte and his technical team to curb the club’s downward spiral in the league, which is blamed on the players’ inability to convert scoring chances.
While the Frenchman appears somewhat satisfied with the cohesion in other departments, the strike force remains a grave concern due to a lack of firepower. This inability is evident from the few goals scored: eight in total. Lafitte has indeed lamented the team’s inability to convert the goal-scoring opportunities created. Defensively the team depends on tried and tested likes who include captain and goal-stopper Washington Arubi and central defender Marvin Skhosana.
Amid the goal-scoring crisis, two offensive midfielders, Jaisen Clifford and Bheki Mabuza, have emerged as reliable scorers. They have scored two goals between them in the nine league matches. Other strikers in the squad, including Thapelo Dhludhlu and Daniel Msendami, are yet to show their striking instincts.
Lafitte’s concerted effort to solve the goal-scoring problem has seen the club enlist a foreign striker, Mofosse Karidioula Tréso from Ivory Coast. The player has had stints with Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas and Williamsville, as well as Egyptian club Harras El Hodoud.
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