Will Rollers end Hunda

TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer | Friday November 23, 2007 00:00

 

Only a win will suffice the once-mighty Gunners after a poor run in the last three matches. After a storming start to the season, Gunners have been disappointing and Hunda has come under immense pressure with supporters baying for his blood. He was called names a fortnight ago when his charges lost 3-2 to Police XI. He was blamed for sidelining key players like Othusitse Mahube and Ofentse Mmipi.

Currently, Gunners are lying 12th on the Premier League table with nine points while Rollers are sitting in seventh spot with 12 points. Ahead of what promises to be a pulsating clash against Rollers, Hunda remains confident that his team can bring their opponents down to earth.

Though he remains calm even under pressure from the supporters, a defeat against a rejuvenated Rollers' might bring his third stint at Gunners to another abrupt end. Supporters have not minced words when they speak about the Zimbabwean coach.

But he says Gunners' fans are good at talking and criticising but they are doing little to help the club to get quality players. 'Their attitude is not right because they want to compare Gunners of today to the one which swept everything 10 years ago. This must stop,' said an angry Hunda. He asserted that he was hired to rebuild Gunners and he believes he is on the right track. 'We can beat Rollers if the players remain focused and stay away from politics,' he said.

Though he was criticised for benching Mahube and Mmipi in their last game, Hunda said that Gunners is not made of two players and he will not be pushed about fielding.

'The players admitted that what they did was wrong. They have been training and are in line for selection like any other player,' said the irate coach.

Politics aside, Mapantsula have players who can give Rollers a torrid afternoon. The problem with Gunners is that they have the tendency to lose concentration at critical times to conceded silly goals.

Rollers' assistant coach Daniel 'Chicco' Nare said that they are prepared for the game and it will not be wise to think that since Gunners have been hit by problems they are easy meat.

Nare said though some of their players have recovered from injury, they might be forced to stick to the team which was held to a goalless draw by BMC a fortnight ago. Moemedi 'Jomo' Moatlhaping is now fit and this means that the Gunners' defence might have its  hands full. Rollers know the importance of this game and what it means to the supporters.