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Premiership newcomers Tshakhuma Madzivhandila (TTM) have dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks, but their opponents, SuperSport United, are determined to avoid being caught in the storm when the two teams meet. in an MTN8 quarterfinal match at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
United’s cautious coach Kaitano Tembo urged his players to focus on their preparations and not allow the ensuing turmoil in their opponents to distract them from the task at hand.
“We have tried by all means not to get sidetracked by what is happening at their camp because that has nothing to do with us,” said Tembo, who defends the MTN8 trophy he won last season.
“We need to really try to focus on ourselves and make sure we prepare really well for this game. We have to focus on ourselves and go there with the right mindset and frame of mind because this game is very key for us.
“His situation makes him even more dangerous for us because many players who have gone there will want to prove themselves.”
TTM has been in the midst of the storm for weeks and it escalated a few days ago when coach Norman Mapeza walked away surprisingly angry after spending only a few days at the Limpopo-based newcomers.
The 48-year-old told TimesLIVE this week that he decided to shorten his few days on TTM after realizing that he would not have enough time to adjust the equipment to the standard and level of his liking.
“I’m back home now,” Mapeza told TimesLIVE from her home in Harare without providing granular details on why she left.
“(It was) just a professional decision. I thought that I couldn’t build a team in less than three weeks that was going to compete to my liking. (There isn’t) much in it. “
Coach Joel Masutha and Lucky Nelukau have been asked to step in following Mapeza’s departure and will be on the bench when TTM takes on United.
Tembo admitted that he doesn’t know what to expect from TTM.
The newcomers are expected to be different from the team that completed the season in the PSL bio-bubble and played in the promotional play-offs.
“We know very well that it is not going to be an easy game, in fact, it is probably the most difficult game you can face on the first day of the season,” he said.
“That’s for a simple reason that we are playing against a new team and we really don’t have an idea of what kind of team we are going to find.
“It is quite difficult but at the same time our preparation will be very key.
“As for our preparations, it was not ideal, but we have to do what we can because we only had three weeks to prepare by exiting the bubble.
“I really don’t think we’re too lacking in terms of match fitness because we only gave our players a week and a half off after the end of the season.
“In terms of fitness, I think our players are in good shape and at the same time we never change our team.
“We only had a few starts on Dean Furman, Thabo Mnyamane, Thabo Qalinge, and Aubrey Modiba, but the core of the squad is still around.
“We have brought in some new players like goalkeeper George Chigova from Polokwane City, Iqraam Rayners from Stellenbosch FC and two youngsters Keenan Phillip and Mpho Mathebula from Bidvest Wits.
“They are developing well, but it may take a little time for them to get going. We are happy with their progress at this time.
– TimesLIVE
Source: ARENA Holdings.
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