Baroka FC players celebrate a goal (Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
In Kgoloko Thobejane’s mind, there is no way that Baroka FC will be relegated on his watch as he is the head coach of the struggling Bakgaga side that lost 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in their last outing, registering their ninth lost in 15 DStv Premiership games.
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Thobejane says the recipe to stay in the top flight is simple – they will need to shop for quality players in the coming January transfer window, insisting that he will have to add personnel to aid his current crop of players.
“If we can beef up the team and get players who can do what we want, I don’t think Baroka can be relegated,” he said.
“We need quality players, young or experienced players can help us make it because this is our job and we cannot run away from this problem. This situation happens and we have been struggling to get points because of some reasons and if we work hard, results will come,” Thobejane added.
One may ask why did the Baroka mentor decide to start with his most potent striker, Evidence Makgopa, on the bench against a strong side like Sundowns. Thobejane explains the rationale behind his team selection:
“Evidence is a national asset and we have to manage him. He got injured when we played Swallows. He had not fully recovered, there was no way we would leave him out knowing that we need him because we are struggling up front. He is still young and if you force him to play, it becomes a problem for us and the country because if a player is injured, you can’t risk playing him for 90 minutes, we have to look after him.”