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| Roger Palmgren @ Backpagepix |
Roger Palmgren, the AmaZulu coach, says he will never stop fighting as long as he still has the chance to save the club from the hopeless situation they find themselves in early in the season.
The Swedish boss has another opportunity to turn their woeful season around this Sunday, but it comes via the Telkom Knockout when they host Platinum Stars at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont.
Usuthu have suffered six losses in eight matches this term – seven in the Absa Premiership where they sit bottom of the log and one in the
MTN8 first round.
“As long as you’re alive, you can still fight to try and change things around,” Palmgren said. “We’ve been working hard on a lot of things that we haven’t done so well tactically thus far.
“The mood is still okay, we’re always trying to keep it up because we understand that it is extremely important to turn things around from where they are right now.
“We played a friendly last week when we did very well. Hopefully we can transform that.”
The under-pressure AmaZulu coach insisted they were not placing any less emphasis on the competition because it was a cup game, saying that every match was of utmost importance.
He continued: “It’s 100 per cent focus on the cup because that is the next game, I don’t believe in giving less in any game.
“The long-term goal is the league, but the focus has to be on the next game. The cup is up next and that’s where we’ll be aiming to get our next game in.
“Whenever you win (league or cup), you’re always boosted by it and we’re hoping that’s what will happen. It also just lifts the mood around the club and it’s something we are working on.”
The Durban club has been hit by an injury to midfielder Kagiso Senamela, one of their best performers this season, after he sustained a hamstring injury.
Palmgren is also still without first choice goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini and regular centre back Belux Kasonga, with the coach confident they have “enough options” to cover for the absentees.
However, he admitted to being unsure as to what their opponents Stars will offer.
Dikwena are presently ninth on the league table with three wins, three losses and a draw, while they defeated AmaZulu 2-1 when they met three weeks ago.
“They use the short balls, long balls and they also play attacking,”
Palmgren added. “They’re always mixing up the play.
“So they’re a very tricky team because they use no particular strategy.”
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