JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (Absa Premier League) – Johan Eriksson insists that there is no relegation concern in the Thanda Royal Zulu camp ahead of this week’s Absa Premier League encounter against Moroka Swallows in Germiston.
The Amabhubesi are third from bottom in the league with 26 points, only two clear of the drop zone, currently occupied by Bay United (20) and Bloemfontein Celtic (24).
Maritzburg United’s improved form in recent weeks has seen them move five points clear of Roger Palmgren’s team with just six games remaining.
After playing the Birds this week, our boys still need to play Free State Stars, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town, Platinum Stars and the People’s Team themselves, but assistant coach Eriksson is not perturbed.
“The only thing that’s going to help us is focussing on the next game, which is the Swallows game, so that the only place where our focus is, not the other teams,” he said ahead of the game.
“I think if you look at the statistics, we are both unpredictable sides. So it will be an exciting game. We’ve beaten them once before this season, so it’s not in anyway impossible, but it’s going to be a hard match for sure.”
Thanda have the worst defence in the league having conceded a whopping 47 goals, and Eriksson admits it is something they have been working on during the recent international break.
He added: “The break has been very good, we’ve been playing some very nice friendlies, we’ve been working on our game and I think we will see an improved side against Swallows.
“Actually, we’ve been working very hard to rectify the defence. I don’t want to go too much into specifics. But I think we know what has been causing it, so we’ve been working hard these past two weeks to rectify that.”
Phil Evans will miss the game through injury, while Musa Nyatama and James Madidilani are suspended.
Swallows coach Julio Leal, who will be without the injured Brent Geyer and banned Fabian McCarthy, is just pleased to be returning to Germiston for their home matches after a spell in Rustenburg – almost two hours away.
He said: ““It is a very good feeling to return to Germiston to play our home games circumventing the long and arduous trip to Rustenburg that has been so tough for us.
“Beside the lessened travelling, the biggest boost is to the emotional well-being of our players. Germsiton is a nice pitch to play on and our boys feel at home and familiar there.
“The break for the national team games was positive, and we could re-test the players, in our last opportunity to check how they are doing. This week we have worked on all the senses, physically, technically and tactically, and the squad is doing very well indeed giving us hope and confidence for a great performance and the acquisition of three vitally important points.”