Pretoria – University of Pretoria coach Steve Barker says he is confident his charges will pick themselves up from their two opening losses this season.
AmaTuks went down to Moroka Swallows in their Premiership opener, before being outclassed by Kaizer Chiefs in an MTN8 first round clash.
“As a club, we don't look at results… we look at performances,” Barker said on Monday, ahead of Tuks' second league game of the season.
“I felt against Swallows we were a bit hard done-by for not getting at least a point.
“We look at deeper things than just results, and we believe we've done enough to feel confident we will be competitive.”
Tuks would have gone 18 days since their last competitive game when they meet United on Wednesday in Pretoria.
Barker said the team had been hard at work and played a number of friendly fixtures to keep the players fit.
“We had to utilise the period we had to get a bit of game-time under the belt,” he said.
“We used the games just to shape our formations and combinations and it's been good for us.”
Friendlies against Black Leopards, Mpumalanga Black Aces and two lower-division sides also helped integrate the team's new signings from SuperSport, Grant Kekana and Atusaye Nyondo.
“It was necessary to see what shape we're in as a team and to have a good look at some of the players we've brought in.
“Having lost a few players and bringing new players into the team, it doesn't happen overnight that you gel.”
Barker's side was the surprise package last year, claiming a top-eight finish in their debut season in the country's top tier.
He believed their second year would prove to be an even sterner test for the Pretoria outfit.
“It's a tough league and it's going to be a tough season ahead.
“We've got to put things into perspective, where we are, as we are still rookies in this league.
“There's still a lot of hard work to be done to consolidate (last season's good run) and we need to approach it in similar fashion to last season.” – Sapa