Sports / Soccer
Erol Akbay chases own record
27 Jun 2017 at 16:35hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS are six points poorer than they were after 15 games last season and coach Erol Akbay will need to do more to keep up with his own record.
Failure to rise to the occasion could be catastrophic in a season they are trying to win the title they last won in 2006.
Although the season is not yet halfway, after the league was extended to 18 from 16 teams, Bosso's performance so far could go from bad to worse if they fail to reach 31 points at halfway with more games.
By this time last year, the Premiership giants had managed 31 points, scored a remarkable 21 goals and conceded just eight goals.
The script has changed.
So far they have lost four games compared to last year's two, scored just 16 goals in 15 games and conceded 13 goals, two less than that conceded by eventual 2016 runners-up FC Platinum for the whole season.
Yesterday the Dutch coach maintained that, with their 25 points collected, they were on course as the league was too complex to consider positions and records at this stage.
"I'm not very worried about our position. If you look at it, the teams at the top including us are separated by a few points. After another round of matches, everything changes so it is important for us to just try and win every game," he said.
Akbay could be justified in his claim of the complexity of the league his season.
By this time last year FC Platinum were the log leaders with 33 points from 15 games.
The current log leaders Ngezi Platinum are on 28 points after 15 games while Chicken Inn who are also on 28 points with an inferior goal difference and game in hand, will still not reach that 33 point mark in 15 games.
On Sunday Bosso again dropped points, managing a goalless draw against How Mine.
Akbay said Kelvin Kaindu's charges are refined and on another day they could have easily lost.
"They play good football and with their style, they made it very difficult for us," he said.
"It is sad we lost two points. It is important for us to keep winning matches and be part of the top three.
"The game was good for both sides and we also had our chances. We could have scored but they also could have scored goals. The positive thing is that our strikers created chances but then failed to score. We have to improve on that."
With that draw, Bosso missed the chance to reduce the gap at the top and they are three points behind pace-setters Ngezi Platinum and Chicken Inn.
Highlanders started the season well but of late they have had an inconsistent run.
AKBAY RECORD AFTER 15 GAMES
2017 Highlanders 15 7 4 4 16 13 25
2016 Highlanders 15 9 4 2 21 8 31
Failure to rise to the occasion could be catastrophic in a season they are trying to win the title they last won in 2006.
Although the season is not yet halfway, after the league was extended to 18 from 16 teams, Bosso's performance so far could go from bad to worse if they fail to reach 31 points at halfway with more games.
By this time last year, the Premiership giants had managed 31 points, scored a remarkable 21 goals and conceded just eight goals.
The script has changed.
So far they have lost four games compared to last year's two, scored just 16 goals in 15 games and conceded 13 goals, two less than that conceded by eventual 2016 runners-up FC Platinum for the whole season.
Yesterday the Dutch coach maintained that, with their 25 points collected, they were on course as the league was too complex to consider positions and records at this stage.
"I'm not very worried about our position. If you look at it, the teams at the top including us are separated by a few points. After another round of matches, everything changes so it is important for us to just try and win every game," he said.
Akbay could be justified in his claim of the complexity of the league his season.
By this time last year FC Platinum were the log leaders with 33 points from 15 games.
On Sunday Bosso again dropped points, managing a goalless draw against How Mine.
Akbay said Kelvin Kaindu's charges are refined and on another day they could have easily lost.
"They play good football and with their style, they made it very difficult for us," he said.
"It is sad we lost two points. It is important for us to keep winning matches and be part of the top three.
"The game was good for both sides and we also had our chances. We could have scored but they also could have scored goals. The positive thing is that our strikers created chances but then failed to score. We have to improve on that."
With that draw, Bosso missed the chance to reduce the gap at the top and they are three points behind pace-setters Ngezi Platinum and Chicken Inn.
Highlanders started the season well but of late they have had an inconsistent run.
AKBAY RECORD AFTER 15 GAMES
2017 Highlanders 15 7 4 4 16 13 25
2016 Highlanders 15 9 4 2 21 8 31
Source - hmetro
