Davids Not Paying Attention To Gallants’ CAF Form

Maritzburg United coach Fadlu Davids said they will not pay too much attention to Marumo Gallants’ brilliant showing in the CAF Confederation Cup, because that will deviate their focus and thinking in the battle for survival.

Gallants are turning the screws impressively in the Confed Cup, qualifying to the knockout stages despite being bottom of the DStv Premiership standing, and losing 4-1 to Libyan side AL- Akhdar in the group stage match on Sunday away.

However, despite the loss, the knockout passage was sealed before the match after Congolese side Saint Eloi Lupopo drew with Algerian side USM Alger to remain top of the group, one behind second placed USM Alger with one game to go.

They have been brilliant in this competition, especially winger Lesiba Nku and striker Ranga Chivaviro up top with three goals, the third top scorer in the competition one behind Ghanaian Paul Acquah of Rivers United in Nigeria.

On the other hand, Maritzburg have not improved, losing the last three league matches to be sunk to second from bottom with 21 points after 23 matches, one behind bottom side Gallants.

Davids was asked if he is worried by Gallants’ form in Africa, that they might quickly transfer that to the league and catch his side up, he said destiny is still in their hands as they will meet Gallants in the third to last game at home.         

“It’s good question,” quickly replied back to the iDiski Times.

“But it’s not about other teams, it’s about us. We have to get the points and we can’t be watching other teams and hope they lose.

“They can lose all the games – and we are in the playoffs (spot) at the moment. But it’s about us, it’s about scoring goals, it’s about us picking up the points, that’s what it is about.

“It’s not about Swallows, Chippa United – if you take these four teams that are in it (relegation dogfight), it’s about you and your team and that is what we will focus on.”

Maritzburg, who lost 3-2 to Kaizer Chiefs before the international break, next visit TS Galaxy on 2 April at Mbombela Stadium.

It is a team Davids lost in his first game in charge after the resumption of the league following the FIFA World Cup break in December.

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“The next three points that are available, we will fight until the death and that is our approach,” he said.

“We will take the next seven games like cup finals.”