Systems target vulnerable Ostriches
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday December 8, 2017 16:57
Despite a recent poor string of results that saw the ousting of the Zimbabwean coach Madinda Ndlovu, the Ostriches are still a side to send a chill down the spine of any opponent. The Ostrich blood has spilled twice this season at their fortress when they lost to Miscellaneous and Sankoyo Bush Bucks. The arrival of Daniel Nare seems to have brought the house back in order and the stronghold is regaining its stature.
Orapa’s last two opponents at Itekeng, TAFIC and Police both failed to find the net. TAFIC were humiliated 3-0 while Police XI could only escape with a point.
But that does not bother Systems coach, Thaloba Nthaga. Systems are yet to lose to the Ostriches since joining top flight football. They have scored in all their games against Orapa. In their last three meetings they drew 1-1 twice, while Systems won the other 1-0. The statistics are the same for Nthaga versus the Ostriches, but different for Nare versus Systems.Systems are yet to get the better of Nare. He beat them twice while still with Extension Gunners 2-0 and 2-1 respectively last season and held them to a stalemate with Miscellaneous this season.
Nthaga still believes it is game on in Orapa. He said he sees the Ostriches as a more vulnerable side that they can overcome. He said the Ostriches are still wobbling out of a purple patch and they lack confidence. He said, as a team that has been performing well in the Mascom Top 8 competition, the Ostriches will be under pressure to repeat their feat, which will add to their complications.
“We only need to score a goal and win the match,” Nthaga said. “We are a team to score a goal in every game and we still hold a good record against them. Defensively they are not very strong and we are ready to exploit that. In our past game, we started cautiously, we were a bit slow hence we failed to score. In the second leg we are not leaving anything to chance. We will come out from the start, frustrate them with a goal and go all the way.”
Nthaga and his team must however be on the lookout for an on form Ostriches marksman, Omaatla Kebatho. He has been banging goals left, right and centre since the arrival of Nare. Systems might have gotten a glimpse of him in their past encounter; he is the man responsible for the away goal.
Nare said his camp is in order save for Tendai Nyumasi who is still nursing an injury. He said they are bringing a different approach from their past game against Systems and they will be rotating the players. He said they appreciate the growth of their opponents and their power approach to the game. He said his team is growing in confidence and the past results at home should be ignored at own peril.
“It is not magical that our striker is in good form. He is working better with others in terms of play and they are all regaining their confidence. In my only two games at home, we have not conceded and I am happy with my defence.”
“Systems is a strong side they came into the league and gave a good account of themselves and we cannot take them lightly. We are home we will change our approach and our line up will also change. It is going to be a tough encounter but we are going to be a bit more adventurous. We are confident.”