Satmos' Mading optimistic about promotion

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday November 12, 2010 00:00

Satmos were relegated from the Premier League in 2006 and have failed to gain promotion since then.

'I believe that we stand a good chance of making it to the Premier League because of the way teams that are on top of us are playing,' Mading said. Satmos are sixth in the 12-team log and are hoping to cash in if their rivals slip.

'The leading pack drew this past weekend and we can make it if we do not drop points. Our aim [is] to pick up points in the remaining games,' he said.

Mading announced that the team has recruited coach Stanford Ntini, who replaces Peter Muchina who was dismissed recently. Mading said Ntini, a former assistant coach to Kenneth Mogae at Boteti Young Fighters, used to play for Satmos and therefore understands the culture of the club.

'Our problem is that when we start losing games, we lose one too many. When we start winning, the damage will be done. We are working hard to change all that. The squad that we have comprises young and older players that we expect to bring [their] experience to the team,' Mading said.

He noted that it was regrettable that older players were roped in during Muchina's tenure. Mading said this has led to a situation where players attend training when they feel like.

He accused such players of indiscipline. He said some players abscond from training and when they turn-up, they want to be included in the starting line-up. Mading has already advised the new coach to focus mostly on the youngsters as they can be moulded. Meanwhile, Mading said his club, unlike the majority in the lower divisions, do not have a problem with players' remuneration as the majority are employed elsewhere.

However, he admitted that life in the First Division is hard without sponsorship as his club survives on the support from the community and a few sponsors.

'There are some instances that we travel to far places like Maun only to find that there is no referee and we are forced to come back and that is killing us.

We do not have money to keep on going to the same place again because referees do not honour games. That is also hampering progress in our league,' he said.

The Cheetahs play Mahalapye Hotspurs in Mahalapye this weekend. Mading said morale is high in camp and the boys are looking forward to a positive result.

'I am pleased with what is happening [at training]. The game is going to be tough and we have to start picking up points,' he said.