Young Strikers brace for new season

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Thursday July 29, 2010 00:00

 

At the end of the first round last season, it looked like the Extension 27 club was destined for Division Two football. At the time, it anchored the standings with a measly seven points. But they showed great character to fight all the way and finish sixth.

With the new season about to start, Young Strikers are preparing themselves for perhaps the most competitive campaign in recent times and club spokesperson, Jacob Tshube has said there is need to 'shift to another gear'.'We did not start well last season which resulted in the team finishing the first round at the bottom of the log. No one in the team would like to see a repeat of that. We have started preparing so that when the season starts, we would have [had] a complete squad ready to compete instead of avoiding relegation,' Tshube said.

He stated that the arrival of Botshelo 'Observer' Pelokgosi was the turning point last season as he managed to instill confidence in the players.

That is why Pelokgosi has been retained as head coach. 'We believe he had a successful season and we saw no reason to look elsewhere. He has proved to everybody that he has what it takes to take this team to greater heights. Judging by the way we suffered after he left and how we rose after he returned, I have no doubt that he is the man to take us to another level,' he said.

Pelokgosi arrived at Strikers when the season was already underway after his dismissal from Letlapeng FC who felt he had dampened their chances of promotion.

Although he declined to disclose any names, Tshube told Mmegi Sport that his club has already started negotiating with some players in the Premier League and First Division to reinforce the squad.

He stated that some players in the team are nearing the end of their playing days hence the need to find suitable replacements. 'We need both youth and experience. It is important to recruit players with Premier League experience because we would be playing a lot of teams who have been there before and we need a team that can compete effectively. It is time we start[ed] aiming higher lest we end up going down because we became content with keeping our First Division status,' he said. Tshube complained that the absence of a league sponsor could dampen players' spirits.