Head coach for rookies Letlapeng, Thaloba ‘Machine’ Nthaga, has called for calm following his side’s 1-0 loss to fellow strugglers Extension Gunners in a match played at the SSKB Stadium in Mogoditshane on a chilly Sunday afternoon.
The goal which decided the match was converted by Zambian striker Shabby Nsongamali Mwaba in the 40th minute.
It was Letlapeng’s second consecutive defeat, leaving their fans panicking.
“We did not play well especially in the first half but came alright in the second half. The pitch did not make things easier for us. We were let down by our failure to convert the chances we created. They (Gunners) got a half chance and they scored. I think we need to address our goalscoring situation if we’re to get the desired results. We’re looking out for a foreign striker who is a free agent hopefully we’ll be able to bring him on board soon,” said Nthaga on the back of the defeat.
The Rock of Ages made a storming start to their Premier League debut season when they hammered Orapa United 3-0 in their opening match at Molepolole Sports Complex on August 9.
On the day, the Ramotswa-based side outplayed and outsmarted their opponents, much to the delight of their vociferous supporters who thronged the Kweneng capital.
The win took the football community aback as many pundits had not given Letlapeng a chance going into the game.
In their second game, inexperience let down Letlapeng when they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away to Gaborone United on August 24 in Molepolole.
“There is no need to panic because we’ve played well in the three games we’ve played. Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to get the results we wanted. All we need is to put our heads together and plan for our next match against Motlakase [on Saturday in Selebi-Phikwe],” Nthaga added.
He said their target is to reach 35 points in order to retain their position at the end of the season. Though he is aware of the challenges which lie ahead, the soft-spoken mentor believes that they have assembled a squad which can achieve their dream. “We’ve got a quality squad and we’ll go into each and every game to compete. We’re going to learn with every game we play but not forgetting to accumulate points,” Nthaga said.
He appealed to the fans to continue rallying behind their side in large numbers because their voices motivate the players.
“Our fans have been incredible but I still believe the numbers can grow. The people of Ramotswa need to know that this team is theirs and they need to put their support behind it,” said the former Black Peril coach.
