Swallows FC captain Lebohang Mokoena has opened up on suggestions that the squad has been affected mentally by the alleged financial issues at the club.
Mokoena, 35, has assumed an even bigger role at the Dube Birds this season after the absence of Vuyo Mere and Thabo Matlaba in the previous transfer window.
As a veteran with nearly two decades of experience in professional football, his calm demeanour and advice to the younger players has played a pivotal role since their return to the top-flight.
But with the Dube Birds said to be facing some financial difficulties, their inflated squad of 37 players are said to have been affected by payment issues.
“We all have problems, I don’t think we’re not the only team in the league but I think people only start to recognise your problems when the results are not going well,” he said.
“People start to dig for stuff that when you’re winning they just bypass it and sweep in under the carpet but I think that amounts with the pressure that comes with being a professional footballer.
“In your working space there’s always going to be people that want to know how are you winning or why are you losing or why are you not doing well. There are always issues, like any other team we also have issues.
“But what I’m happy and glad about is that we sit down as players, management also sit down on their own and we discuss certain issues that we might face as players and at least it’s an open book in terms of us speaking to management about problems.
“Me as a captain I’m here to make sure the players deliver on the field of play, things that are happening outside I can always refer to management, certain questions I can’t answer.
“When it comes to the players it’s my duty that the players are in the right frame of mind to make sure the players come to work and there to perform on the field of play.”
Swallows will be aiming to advance to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup when they host Royal AM on Friday – just a week after their last-minute defeat to the KZN outfit in the league.
