Comets ready for tough campaign

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Friday September 3, 2010 00:00

 

The coach acknowledges that they face tough opposition in the First Division South because of the presence of former Premier League clubs but he is confident that they will bounce back. Radipotsane is motivated by the fact that Comets did not lose many players during the transfer window. Hence he will be working with players who are familiar with each other.

Only talented yet troublesome midfielder Bobo Motlhalane, defender Ishmael Netty and former Police XI striker Lapologang Motlogi have left. 'I believe we have a good chance of promotion like any other team. I expect competition to be stiffer this time and it would be suicidal to bank on our reputation or experience but definitely, we are aiming to bounce back,' Radipotsane said.

The hoarse-voiced coach said the core of the players are his products from Galaxy Stars and that is why it was easy for the team to gel.

Radipotsane arrived at Comets last season when the club still had a mathematical chance of avoiding the relegation axe. He got off to a good start, winning against BDF XI but a 1-0 loss to Township Rollers proved fatal. In the last game he came back strongly to beat his former team, BMC but with Killer Giants on a revival his efforts on the day went to waste.

'The majority of the players here were groomed by me and that made it easy to get them back on the winning track when I came back. There are no certainties in football but I expect to continue from where I left last season,' Radipotsane said.Comets chairman, Njabulo Gilika said the club has faith in the coach and they believe it will be easy for the players to reach peak form under him.

'When we brought him back before the end of the season, there were two things we were aiming for. We knew we still had a mathematical chance of avoiding relegation and even a better chance of qualifying for the play-offs and we thought he would be the right man to orchestrate our quick return. But we also said if we did not survive, then we knew his experience would come in handy in the new season when we would be aiming for promotion, which is why we retained him,' Gilika explained.

He said lack of discipline contributed to Comets' relegation last season although some fingers have been pointing management's way.

'We acquired some players hoping their experience would help us but they proved too disruptive and we have since parted ways with them. There was lack of discipline and whenever we intervened as management, those players would complain of ill-treatment,' he said.

Gilika has appealed to the business community to help Comets financially saying the lack of sponsorship in the First Division is making life difficult for most clubs.

 'The only thing you play for in this league is the first position and when you get to the Premier League which is more financially demanding, you are bound to fail because you just do not have the resources. We need people who can help and the community at large should be more involved to monitor how we do things because stories such as the club is not treating players well are not always true. The supporters need to come forward and carry this burden with us and guide us where necessary,' he appealed.