SUPERSPORT United coach Gordon Igesund has surprisingly ruled out his new club's chances of winning the Absa Premiership title this season.
Following a 3-1 win against Platinum Stars in Atteridgeville on Saturday - Igesund's first match in charge since being roped in to replace Cavin Johnson - the former Bafana coach all but threw in the towel on the the 2008, 2009 and 2010 champions' chances of a repeat this season.
"I think this should be a team that is challenging for the league, but whether we can challenge this season is unlikely," said Igesund after the match. "I've told the players our first priority is to get away from where we are at the moment. But a team like SuperSport should be challenging year in and year out. They have got to be amongst the top five teams in the country.
"We should try move away from the bottom half of the table and try get into the top eight by the halfway mark."
His statements could be met with some unhappiness by SuperSport chairman Khulu Sibiya, who emphasised that he had hired Igesund to provide a quick fix. Igesund's good start, however, does mean the coach has already gone some way in restoring belief among the players.
The win against Dikwena at the Lucas Moripe Stadium came through a Gift Sithole own goal and a second-half brace from Bradley Grobler.
"If we can get into the top eight by the halfway mark and be about four or five points off the pace from the log leaders, then I can say we've got a chance. But at the moment, if they keep winning and we do the same, we are still a lot of points behind them. It's tough to catch up on those points, and you start running out of games," said Igesund.
Igesund now has another two weeks to get used to his team, with SuperSport's next fixture a home clash against Bloemfontein Celtic on September 27.
Igesund downplays United's chances
SUPERSPORT United coach Gordon Igesund has surprisingly ruled out his new club's chances of winning the Absa Premiership title this season.
Following a 3-1 win against Platinum Stars in Atteridgeville on Saturday - Igesund's first match in charge since being roped in to replace Cavin Johnson - the former Bafana coach all but threw in the towel on the the 2008, 2009 and 2010 champions' chances of a repeat this season.
"I think this should be a team that is challenging for the league, but whether we can challenge this season is unlikely," said Igesund after the match. "I've told the players our first priority is to get away from where we are at the moment. But a team like SuperSport should be challenging year in and year out. They have got to be amongst the top five teams in the country.
"We should try move away from the bottom half of the table and try get into the top eight by the halfway mark."
His statements could be met with some unhappiness by SuperSport chairman Khulu Sibiya, who emphasised that he had hired Igesund to provide a quick fix. Igesund's good start, however, does mean the coach has already gone some way in restoring belief among the players.
The win against Dikwena at the Lucas Moripe Stadium came through a Gift Sithole own goal and a second-half brace from Bradley Grobler.
"If we can get into the top eight by the halfway mark and be about four or five points off the pace from the log leaders, then I can say we've got a chance. But at the moment, if they keep winning and we do the same, we are still a lot of points behind them. It's tough to catch up on those points, and you start running out of games," said Igesund.
Igesund now has another two weeks to get used to his team, with SuperSport's next fixture a home clash against Bloemfontein Celtic on September 27.
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