Sports / Soccer
Erol Akbay revolt
19 May 2017 at 05:07hrs | Views
Highlanders' coach Erol Akbay has vowed to field fringe players for tomorrow's Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter against Bantu Rovers.
Akbay says the regular players underrate their opponents who are far below them on the log standings.
Highlanders drew with bottom of the log Chapungu two weeks ago and Harare City on Wednesday.
He said on Wednesday in Harare "A draw is a bad result. I was not happy with the performance today, it was bad football.
"We are doing okay in the league so far, but I am not happy because we are playing against lowly-ranked teams," he said.
On Thursday, the Dutchman said :
"I'm pissed off with the way first team players apply themselves when we play teams that are at the bottom.
"They were too confident against Chapungu and Harare City. They thought that those games were a piece of cake, which is wrong.
When we play big teams they give their best, fight for every ball, but when it's small teams, they don't even run an extra three metres to fight for the ball," said Akbay.
"I'm going to make wholesome changes and use a different team on Saturday. Maybe the guys that have not been playing can give me the result that I want.
He said he is aware his move might backfire.
"This is a risk that I'm willing to take and who knows, sometimes gambling pays," Akbay said.
The only player almost guaranteed of a starting place is goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
The midfield trio of King Nadolo, Brian Banda and Tendai Ngulube as well as strikers Nhlanhla Ndlovu and Gabriel Nyoni could also be given rare starts tomorrow.
Akbay says the regular players underrate their opponents who are far below them on the log standings.
Highlanders drew with bottom of the log Chapungu two weeks ago and Harare City on Wednesday.
He said on Wednesday in Harare "A draw is a bad result. I was not happy with the performance today, it was bad football.
"We are doing okay in the league so far, but I am not happy because we are playing against lowly-ranked teams," he said.
On Thursday, the Dutchman said :
"I'm pissed off with the way first team players apply themselves when we play teams that are at the bottom.
When we play big teams they give their best, fight for every ball, but when it's small teams, they don't even run an extra three metres to fight for the ball," said Akbay.
"I'm going to make wholesome changes and use a different team on Saturday. Maybe the guys that have not been playing can give me the result that I want.
He said he is aware his move might backfire.
"This is a risk that I'm willing to take and who knows, sometimes gambling pays," Akbay said.
The only player almost guaranteed of a starting place is goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
The midfield trio of King Nadolo, Brian Banda and Tendai Ngulube as well as strikers Nhlanhla Ndlovu and Gabriel Nyoni could also be given rare starts tomorrow.
Source - Chronicle/Byo24News
