Maritzburg United coach Fadlu Davids has insisted that his mandate to lead the club into safety hasn’t changed after picking up 10 points in his first six games.
The Team of Choice are currently sitting in the relegation/promotion playoff spot with 21 points after 19 matches, two games in hand over bottom side Marumo Gallants.
The latter side made things interesting as they brought some life to their dressing room as they beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 over the weekend, to register their first league win since October.
This is the first time Davids has found himself in this position as the head coach, though he previously was with the club in the 2015/16 season when he was assistant to Ernst Middendorp.
On that occasion, they crucially survived the axe in the last game, beating Jomo Cosmos, leaving the club chairman Farook Kadodia and his staff in tears of joy at the end.
Such might be required again as they have been brought back to relegation zone after failing to win in the last two matches, which followed a run of three successive wins that lifted the club off the foot of the table.
“When I joined the club, bottom of the log having played more than anyone else, you had one mandate in your head – that is to save the club,” said Davids.
“Of course now six games in, we still haven’t achieved that goal. You want to do it at the end of the season and that is for sure.”
Davids is preparing his side for a big fixture against Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup last-32 at Harry Gwala Stadium tonight (19:30), in what will be the first meeting in this cup between the two sides.
Chiefs last did well in this cup in the 2018/19 season, losing in the final to TS Galaxy. However, the Amakhosi have lost their last three matches in this competition since then.
Coach Arthur Zwane has found the going tough this season, lying fifth on the table with 28 points after 19 matches, 27 whopping points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Davids said it has been a struggle for everyone, bar Sundowns.
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“They are a very good team, I don’t think we should take away what coach Arthur has done,” said Davids.
“Before the three wins in the row, they have gone through the slump and it is not a big slump.
“But it is not only Chiefs’ problems, the entire league besides number one in the league that has been consistent in the entire league.”
