15 Mar 2018

Following their two consecutive losses and two draws in their encounters, Sankoyo Bush Bucks head coach, Philani Mabhena is still hopeful that his boys will make a comeback and secure a slot in the top eight of the BTC premiership league .

He revealed in a recent interview that they were still left with nine games to play and stressed that it was not late for his team to turn the tables around.

Sankoyo registered two consecutive losses at the hands of Extension Gunners, Black Forest and two draws against Miscellaneous and BDF XI football clubs respectively.

“We have been chasing defeat in the previous encounters, but we still have nine games to play and mathematically, we believe we stand a chance to bounce back and fall within the top eight in the league,” the coach added.

Ngurungu as the team is affectionally called is struggling in position 11 with 24 points and some of the supporters have lost hope that the team can break into the top eight bracket.

Currently, the team has five away and four home games and amongst the teams that would visit Ngurungu are the Gaborone giants and log leaders Township Rollers which is happening in two weeks’ time.

Mabhena said his technical committee had a mammoth task to re-organise the team, adding that the team performed well in the past games, but it was unfortunate as they seemed to be goal shy.

For his part, the team public relation officer, Baganetsi Kamanakao concurred with the coach that the team was not sinking, adding that the boys’ performance level was satisfactory and the only problem was scoring.

He said the team had been performing well in their away games, while at home, they experienced some difficulties. Sankoyo have won four away games and two home.

Further, he said all efforts had been made to make the boys happy by travelling on time and giving them their wages and do regular training sessions.

“I suspect that at times, the boys were off-form and that is normal in any club because they play well, but struggle to score,” he added.

Kamanakao is optimistic that they will make a comeback in the remaining matches.

He also suspects that the boys’ morale could be low, adding they had engaged a psychologist to motivate them.

Kamanakao however, confirmed reports that the boys were not yet paid their February wages, saying the club was financially crippled.

The club started the 2017/18 season in a better foundation thanks to Sankoyo Tshwaragano Development Trust which sponsored it to the tune of over P500 000.

The assistance followed an expression of interest by the trust management to assist the ailing Sankoyo Bush Bucks.

The trust injected P590 000 towards the general operations of the club and also indicated that it intended to take care of the club’s transportation during away and home games.

The trust also engaged its accountant to work with the club management committee for prudent financial management and record keeping

Kamanakao revealed that the money had been well spent and finished, adding that they had accounted for every Thebe and submitted a report to the trust.

Currently, he said they had asked for assistance and awaiting response from the trust. ENDS