Kruger United Coach Aims to Turn Mbombela into Fortress
Kruger United coach Abram Mongoya is setting his sights on making Mbombela Stadium a fortress for the team. After a tough opening match against Kaizer Chiefs, which ended in a 3-1 defeat, Mongoya believes that his side will become more formidable at home as they adapt to life in the Betway Premiership.
Mongoya spoke about the upcoming fixture with Marumo Gallants and warned that their next opponents should not expect an easy match. 'Whoever comes in Mbombela it won’t be an easy one,' he said, adding, 'We go to Rustenburg and most definitely we will work around how we improve.'
The coach also highlighted the importance of preparing for upcoming matches through friendly games before facing Marumo Gallants. He stated, 'We’re fortunate enough we will play two more friendlies just before we go to them because when you play friendlies that’s where you see where you lack, and now we had to do that at the expense of a league game and to be honest I’m proud of the boys.'
Mongoya praised his players for their bravery against Kaizer Chiefs but challenged them to improve in terms of possession and final third effectiveness. 'They showed up and were very brave, they just need to understand that it’s not about position only, you need to be vertical give problems and get behind the Chiefs defence and take shots at goal because to be honest they didn’t give problems, they didn’t take enough shots at goal,' he said.
Despite the defeat, Mongoya remains optimistic. 'We travel to Marumo, they didn’t play today - had a privilege however it won’t be easy for them. We go to Rustenburg and most definitely we will work around how we improve,' he concluded. The coach is confident that with further preparation and greater attacking intent, Kruger United can compete more effectively in the Betway Premiership.
Upcoming Matches and Preparation
Kruger United’s next fixture is against Marumo Gallants, which will provide an immediate opportunity to respond to their opening-day loss. Mongoya believes these upcoming matches will help identify areas that need improvement after the club used a league fixture as part of its adjustment to the demands of the top flight.
Coach's Confidence and Challenges
Mongoya acknowledged that his team still has work to do before the next league encounter but remains confident in their potential. 'We’re fortunate enough we will play two more friendlies just before we go to them because when you play friendlies that’s where you see where you lack, and now we had to do that at the expense of a league game and to be honest I’m proud of the boys,' he said.
The coach is optimistic about Kruger United's future in the Betway Premiership. He believes that with further preparation and greater attacking intent, they can make Mbombela Stadium a difficult venue for visiting teams during the coming season.
