Drago, Wanderers refute fallout
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday March 20, 2020 10:52
Stanojlovic said he was not suspended but had family issues to attend to. “I have serious family problems here and in Serbia. I would have wished to go home for at least 30 days but I can’t because of the epidemic,” he said.
Wanderers chairperson, Nelson Kgosipheko also said their coach was on leave, attending to personal issues. Assistant coach, Pule Mogotsi is holding the fort in Drago’s absence.
Kgosipheko said there were performance issues at the team, but these were being addressed. He said the club had started consultations with players after their 1-0 defeat to Jwaneng Galaxy and the coach was aware.
Kgosipheko said the process was not new after they previously went the same route, when they faced a similar situation.
“Of course results are unsatisfactory, but we still have our coach. Yes, we have started initial stages of fixing the team in an effort to attract positive results. We have started consultation with our squad, and we will engage the technical team at a later stage,” he said.
Some members of the club who preferred anonymity reckon Drago’s job could be on the line after a breakdown in relationship with some players. They felt the situation affected performances. Other players are said to have left the club in the off-season following fallout with the coach.
But Kgosipheko declined to say if the coach’s job was on the line. “At the current moment that is not on the table. We are running consultations that would give us a picture of why we are not getting the right results, and we would act on that.”
Wanderers sit precariously on position 13 on the table, equal on 18 points with TAFIC who occupies number 12, which is a relegation spot. They have won four games, drawn six and lost 10 in the 20 matches they played.
The Palapye outfit has been on a bad patch after registering a single draw and losing three times on the roll. They are the third worst scorers with 18 goals and have one of the worst defences after conceding 27 goals.
Kgosipheko is confident they would be able to maintain their premiership status, despite their current position. He admitted the pandemic has halted league activity proving a challenge. “It is difficult, but we are monitoring the situation. We have made plans to keep our players in the right frame of mind and to maintain their fitness. We are certain that once the epidemic clears, we would be ready and hope for the best.”