Marumo Gallants coach Dan Malesela says it will be difficult to keep hold of all of their key players following their run to the Nedbank Cup final.
Malesela’s side had Mamelodi Sundowns on the brink of penalties in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final before Thapelo Morena scored the 2-1 winner in the 119th minute.
However, despite the defeat Gallants did qualify for next season’s CAF Confed Cup but it remains to be seen whether their squad will stay together as it is, because players such as Katlego Otladisa and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo being linked with big moves, while Miguel Timm’s contract is expiring.
After Saturday’s match, Malesela admitted that he can’t do much but cross his fingers that most of his squad will stay together.
“A lot of the players are still contracted to the club,” he told reporters.
“Nothing concrete has been table for any particular player. There are a few that obviously their contract is [running out], like obviously Miguel [Timm] is ending, but we’re trying to keep everybody.
“It will probably be difficult, even if people are contracted, but we’re trying to keep them. It makes coaching easy, it makes progress easier. You really don’t have to start afresh in terms of trying to solidify the philosophy.
“But like I said, you never know. If we can keep the majority of the players, than we’re one step ahead of a lot of things,”
“When you coaching clubs with limited resources, you must just cross your fingers and hope that you’re not losing players.”
Malesela, whose team has impressed throughout their brilliant cup run, also insisted for him playing good football is an imperative part of his coaching philosophy.
“I’m very strict on playing football for playing football,” he added.
“I want people to play football, I want my players to play football so that we can win.
“I want my players to think about goals every time, which is the most important thing – goal and goal and goal, every time.
“Unfortunately, sometimes they don’t go in, sometimes they will. Defences are very wise these days and you’ll not score.
“I don’t remember any game we played, where we have created less than four chances and I’m not saying half-chances.”
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