Thobejane – Football Is A Gamble

Baroka head coach Kgoloko Thobejane admits that he gambled in his selection of the team that was eliminated from the Nedbank cup by Marumo Gallants in Polokwane on Saturday. 

Thobejane made six changes to the starting eleven that lost to AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership during the week including in goal, with Elvis Chipezeze starting in the 1-0 loss to Gallants.

The coach said risks are part of the game and he wanted to show players that there are no guaranteed starting places. 

“In football is like a gamble, you have to gamble, you have to take a risk,” Thobejane said after the game.

“Some of the risks we just need to show those boys who are there who are getting chances not making use of their chances to say guys, if this is the situation you must know that we are not owning positions.

“Some can come, most importantly these young boys they can come and play. I told these seniors, it’s not like we are taking you out of the team” said the coach after the 1-0 loss to Gallants.” 

Despite the opposition dominating the game Thobejane felt there were positives to draw from the encounter and he does not regret any of his decisions on the day. 

“We don’t regret resting some of the players. We don’t regret, it was our plan from the start, “Thobejane added.

“I’m more than happy with the combinations we tried to put on today, combination of Stone and Kante, combination of Maluleke and Ndlovu upfront it was the one wee were looking at.

“It worked for us even if we didn’t win the game. Our game and is mission today was like preparing ourselves for the game of Orlando Pirates.”