Marques bets on his rookies

ZECA Marques is putting all his eggs in one basket - using unfamiliar faces. And the Moroka Swallows coach believes he can still push Dube Birds into title contenders.

Marques has taken flak over his "failure" - to lure top players to the club - on the chin and has stuck to his guns, overlooking tried and tested players in pre-season.

The coach took a swipe at his detractors following Swallows' decent start to the season, where he handed out three first top-flight appearances to Asavela Mbekile, Levi Mokgothu and Tshwarelo Bereng in two league games.

Swallows are also on the verge of signing Nkosinathi Ogle from Lamontville Golden Arrows.

Swallows beat University of Pretoria 1-0 in their Absa Premiership opener a little over three weeks ago and held defending champions Kaizer Chiefs to a 1-1 stalemate on Tuesday night.

Marques will not be in a mad rush to the Premier Soccer League offices tomorrow to make last-minute player registrations. He is clearly pinning his hopes on his rookies this season.

"People believe you need top players to win games and championships, I don't," said Marques, adding that the Dube Birds could have flown away with all three points at FNB Stadium against Chiefs - had it not been for the classy performance of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

Swallows were left a bit thin after Bennett Chenene and David Mathebula joined SuperSport United in the close season.

And as if that was not enough to send Marques on a shopping spree, the league's top scorer, Katlego Mashego, also departed from the Birds' nest to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Edward Manqele moved to Swallows on a loan deal.

Birds face Mpumalanga Black Aces at Dobsonville Stadium tomorrow.