De Sa wants consistence
Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00
BidVest Wits coach Roger de Sa is looking for consistency from his players and is not taking struggling Jomo Cosmos for granted when the teams clash in an Absa Premiership showdown at Milpark on Sunday (kick-off 3.30pm).
On paper the unbeaten 'Students', sitting with 14 points in third
place, should roll over second from bottom 'Ezenkosi' who have
managed to pick up only six points from their eight league fixtures
so far.
"I do not believe that Cosmos are as bad as their league
position suggests," said De Sa.
"In fact they are a better side, at least on paper, than they
were before they were relegated last season. I expect a tough,
tough game."
De Sa said he had watched Cosmos lose 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs at
the Rand Stadium at the weekend and was convinced that Cosmos were
not going to be easy meat.
"Cosmos were as good as Chiefs on the day," said the 'tudents'
coach.
"They have some decent players. New (Malian) striker Sekou
Camara, Koena Mathopa and Bamuza Sono are all quality players who
have shown that they up for the challenge of keeping Cosmos in the
PSL after winning promotion.
"The fact they are fighting to get away from the bottom of the
log means they are going to be doubly hard to play against."
De Sa's side are going well after returning from Orlando Stadium
on Sunday with a credible 1-1 draw against leaders Orlando Pirates.
"Pirates could have buried us in the first half but did not and
we came back strongly in the second period," said De Sa. "It was a
game in the end that could have gone either way."
But De Sa is concerned about his side's ability to kill off
sides like Cosmos.
"We rise to the occasion when we play the big name sides such as
Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, who we have beaten this
season, and Pirates," he said.
"But we lack consistency. The key for me is to motivate my
players to beat sides like Cosmos. After this game we have to play
Golden Arrows, Free State Stars and Platinum Stars.
"Those sides, like Cosmos, are below us and if we want to be
recognised as title contenders we have to beat those types of
teams."
"I have to instil into my players that belief of winning and
that we are good enough to challenge for the league title. That is
the challenge facing me. But I am up for it and will make sure my
players are as well."
Camara was injured against Chiefs and could be unavailable but
Cosmos coach Jomo Sono has been a realist this season by stating
his goal is survival.
He said every game was tough in the PSL but Cosmos were getting
used to playing in the top flight and getting better with every
outing.