Supersport United coach Cavin Johnson believes the addition of striker Lehlohonolo Majoro will take pressure off Mame Niang and Bradley Grobler, Matsatsantsa’s two main strikers who have scored a mere five goals between them in the league this season.
Majoro signed with SuperSport United last week after rejecting a new contract offer from Kaizer Chiefs and Johnson is excited to have the player as the Pretoria club look to challenge for the league title and make a mark in the Caf Confederation Cup starting next month.
The former AmaZulu man bagged nine league goals on Amakhosi’s way to ending an eight-year league title drought last term, but was reduced to a bench warmer as Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter preferred to use Bernard Parker and the Zimbabwean duo of Kingston Nkhatha and Knowledge Musona up front.
Majoro has gone into double figures (in all competitions) each season since making his professional debut at AmaZulu in the 2010/2011 season, which pleases Johnson even more.
“It’s a plus having Majoro in the team. I hope he can maintain that level and even get better. Having him in the team will take the pressure off other guys (Niang and Grobler), and I believe he can even help the young strikers in the team, like Thabiso Nkoana and Prince Nxumalo,” said Johnson, who admitted he has not been happy with the club’s 19 goals in 13 matches in the league.
“Not really, I’m not entirely happy with the amount of goals we have scored. I thought we could have done better. There were two or three games, especially against Swallows, Platinum Stars and Ajax. Those are games we should have put in a better performance.
“Also, the games against Polokwane City and Mpumalanga Black Aces... we could have scored more goals and collected maximum points.
“So this is what I am going to preach for the second half of the season. We need to score more goals.”
SuperSport have also signed former Ajax Cape Town midfielder-cum striker Lebogang Manyama, whose goals helped the Urban Warriors escape relegation last term.
Johnson is hoping Manyama can be as valuable a player as George Maluleka, who moved to Naturena with table-topping Kaizer Chiefs in a swap deal involving Majoro.
“George is a good player. I like him a lot. But some players need to spread their wings. So I wish him all the best at Chiefs. I hope he prospers.
“We have brought in Manyama now and we’re hoping he can also add a lot of value to our team. He is a good player.”
Johnson has not ruled out making more signings during the transfer window this month.
“There are always changes in the team. A team is never settled.
“You are always changing. It makes it even more exciting,” the former Platinum Stars coach said.
Majoro and Manyama will be unveiled by the club today.
Meanwhile, SuperSport return to training today and will play Orlando Pirates on the 18th of this month at Orlando Stadium before taking on AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld 10 days later. - The Star