Johannesburg – Having made a positive start to the new season, Moroka Swallows skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa says the Soweto outfit have simplified their approach and benefited from a more focused effort in the opening month of the 2014/15 campaign.
“We’re taking each game as it comes and trying to get maximum points. Last season, we were more obsessed about trying to get points here and there,” Tsutsulupa said ahead of Swallows league meeting with Polokwane City on Tuesday.
“This time around we need to be more aggressive, and in each game we go to collect points.
“Looking at the Polokwane game, we’ve prepared very well, the guys looked sharp today and hopefully what we practised will be implemented and we will get the maximum points.”
The Birds opened their Premiership account with a surprise 2-1
victory over Orlando Pirates, before returning home and edging AmaZulu by the same score the following week.
Tsutsulupa had missed the start of the new season through injury but, as a veteran in the camp, the winger predicted a better year for Swallows. Following a poor showing in 2013/14, the Dobsonville outfit were involved in a relegation scrap.
“I believe we have a good working environment and everybody has enjoyed themselves during pre-season and until now,” he said.
“In the beginning we lacked chemistry. People simply needed to understand each other in terms of how one wants to receive passes and so forth.
“But apart from that, everybody has settled nicely and we’re working on having a totally unified team.”
Swallows fell short last season after failing to collect enough points after Christmas and Tsutsulupa agreed the Soweto side would have to continue collecting as many points as possible early in the season in order to build a solid foundation.
“It’s very important. We already have six points… I think it’s not bad,” he said.
“If we keep up the same rhythm and try not to lose matches, we’ll be in a pretty stable position come the end of the year.”
Swallows welcome a Polokwane side looking to bounce back with a win.
Rise and Shine opened their season with a nervy 1-0 win over the University of Pretoria, before back-to-back defeats scuppered their progress.
The pair met twice last season and Tsutsulupa and his teammates would be confident of their chances, thanks to a goalless draw and a 2-1 win in the return fixture.
In the night’s other games, Ajax Cape Town welcome a beleaguered Wits to Athlone Stadium.
The Clever Boys were outdone by Pirates in the MTN8 over the weekend and have a tough assignment against an Ajax side hungry for more success under Roger de Sa.
Meanwhile, newly-promoted Chippa United travel to Harry Gwala Stadium where Maritzburg United lie in wait. – Sapa