On fighting to qualify for MTN8
Things are going well so far, and it has always been our aim to make it to the Top Eight. I believe we are on the right track. After losing to Stellenbosch FC in the Carling Knockout Final last year, I won’t lie, that disturbed our rhythm a little bit. We really wanted to win that Final because it was the first Final since the competition was introduced. We could have won it but we lost. That really disturbed us because we kept telling ourselves that we could have won the match instead of focusing on the upcoming league matches. I was also a bit down, at the same time I didn’t want that to affect me because I wanted to help our younger players. Even the coach (Sead Ramovic) told us that: ‘Whatever happened in the Carling Knockout final, we need to put it aside and focus on the league because we need to qualify for the Top Eight’. It will be nice to finish the season inside the top eight. In fact, finishing in the top four is also possible. This is a tough position to be in because whenever we drop points, a team behind us will overtake us. The difference between a team that is number 11 on the log and number four is only nine points. If we can’t score in a match, we cannot concede because at this stage of the season, a single point is better than losing. Our main objective is not to lose matches.
On the remaining four matches
As players we do talk about what outcome we expect in each game and that includes the next three matches against Cape Town City, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City. The Citizens will also be tricky because if they beat us, they will overtake us and that is something we need to avoid by all means. They are not easy matches but the drive and the hunger on the field of play determines the outcome of the match. We will go to all the matches, telling ourselves that we won’t lose. We have beaten these teams before, it’s not as if this will be the first time that we play against them. As much as they know us, we also know them, as much as they want to win against us, we also want to win against them. So, I don’t think this is going to be a very simple path for those teams to go through us. It will be a tough time for them if they want to collect points against us. We drew against Cape Town City in the first leg and the match in Cape Town will not be easy. I know Eric Tinkler because he once coached me at Orlando Pirates. I know that when it comes to these games towards the end of the season, he will be hungry to get more points to finish the season in a good position. Tinkler is someone who strongly believes in his philosophy and he was a good coach when we worked together. He will explain to you what he wants and what he doesn’t want and where to improve as a player. Having him s a coach like that makes the work much simpler.
On facing Pirates, after Cape Town City
Pirates is my former team, and I don’t have any grudge against them. Bucs will always be my team, whether I’m in their program or not. But on the field, I will always respect the TS Galaxy badge. I always wish them good when they play against other teams and my heart has always been there at Pirates and having a grudge against them will just close doors at the end because I can never know what plans God has for me. After Pirates we have The Brazilians. And there will be talks between TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns but one thing for sure, we don’t like losing. Yes, Sundowns is the best team in South Africa right now, but I don’t think they have it easy just like when they played us in their home ground. We have seen our mistakes from our previous game. We have a chance to go at them.
On reaching a peak at the age of 35
My performance now, despite my age, is good. I’m enjoying my football. It’s only God who knows why I’m at my peak at this age. I had an injury before at Marumo Gallants a year before last and the doctors told me I will never play again. But trusting in God, everything has turned around. I was out for 10 months and it’s good to hear people talking about me and maybe big teams will come. I was young when I was at Pirates, maybe I was 22 years old. You know football players at that age, sometimes you forget about football and concentrate on wrong things.
On the return of Bernard Parker from injury
It’s good to see Bernie (Parker) coming back from that very bad injury. As his teammates, we have been supporting him and now that he is back, he needs to do some small rehabs. But he will be good to go next season. He will be 100 percent fine next season.
On the draw against Kaizer Chiefs
The game against Kaizer Chiefs was great, except for the mistake I made which resulted in their first goal. That was the only downside. It was a very disappointing result that we couldn’t get three points against a team that had 10 players on the field (after Edmilson Dove was sent off in the 45th minute). In the second half we tried to capitalise on the numerical advantage and attack more but they had a plan to defend, which didn’t work for them anyway because after they scored we controlled the game. The fact that they didn’t attack us more gave us a chance to get back into the game and get an equalising goal towards the end of the match. Next time, we need to minimise our mistakes and be calm when we are attacking because we had a chance to wrap up the game but (Puso) Dithejane missed a chance and then Sphiwe (Mahlangu) also missed. If we could have scored, we would be talking a different story. We had a good game and now we must focus on the next game against Cape Town City and we can get maximum points that will help us a lot.
Mpho Mvelase,
TS Galaxy defender
