Old Parks kept top spot in the league with a 3–1 win over Panorama in their home match in the Rand Central Local Football Association Division Football League, but coach Jean Irie said the performance did not convince him.

Irie, who coaches the club’s senior team, said the three points were vital, but the display was below the standard he expects. “We could have done better, but they tried their best and we got the win, so we’re all happy.”

He stressed that his complaint was about the way the team played, not the score. Irie said they needed the three points to stay on top of the league, adding that the performance fell short.

He pointed to poor finishing and the weight of expectation. “The ball was not accurate, the shooting was off target and we couldn’t break the line today. We couldn’t play the way we usually play, actually. I think they were under pressure because we were sitting on top of the league.”

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Irie said life at the top brings its own burden. “It’s actually pressure because you want to be there, you don’t want to drop, actually. So, the pressure is on you, not on who follows you.”

When asked if he would rather be the hunter than the hunted, he replied: “Yeah, definitely.”

Old Parks will return to training on Wednesday and Thursday. “Moving to the next game, we would like to improve more on our finishing,” he said. “I think we’ll fix all the mistakes that we made today.”

On the other side, Panorama coach Thulani Mbumba, who leads the club’s third senior team in division 2, had no complaints about his players despite the defeat. “Look, today they played for me, to be quite honest with you,” he said.

He noted that his team had earlier beaten a side that was top of the league at the time, handing them their first loss. He also said most of the goals his side conceded came against the run of play.
Mbumba admitted that he usually shouts at his players after a defeat, but said this time was different. “Today, I’m very happy because they played.”

His squad is a young one. Mbumba said the club’s top teams pick first, leaving him with players left over from the U17s. “I only work with what is left over from the U17s, from all the teams that are around Panorama because we’re actually quite big and we’ve got too many players.”

He was quite impressed with a 17-year-old who played at number 10 in midfield. At centre-back, he fielded his assistant coach (25), who is the only elder player that he’s got on the team. “I actually pushed him to go in so that he can teach these boys,” said Mbumba.

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He wants his players to enjoy their football. “Never, ever leave a field of play with a sad face. Always enjoy, because this is where these boys are enjoying themselves.”

He said last season was hard for the group. “Last year, it was a bit difficult for them, but this year they are enjoying themselves.”

Panorama sits fifth in the league, but Mbumba believes they can still climb. “We can fight for the second or third position,” he said. The team is also chasing a cup semi-final place, with a match due at the end of the month.

Next week they face a team they have beaten before, but Mbumba warned against complacency. “I don’t want to say it’s going to be an easy game because I always tell these boys, let’s take one game at a time. Let us not underestimate because this is football.”

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