A visibly disappointed Highlands Park coach Gordon Igesund lashed out at his players for lacking a Premier League mentality after a 1-0 home defeat against Golden Arrows on Sunday afternoon.
Highlands matched Arrows pound for pound in the first half but fell apart in the second in a match watched by a sizeable crowd at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
Danny Phiri scored in the 86th minute for the visitors after Highlands goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini came out of his area when he should not have.
Phiri latched onto a long ball upfront and chipped the ball over the advancing Kapini to seal the win for Clinton Larsen's side – much to the dismay of he Highlands coach.
Igesund looked agitated as he disappeared into the dressingroom after the final whistle. Reporters had to wait outside the home team's dressing room for their post-match interviews. The reporters slowly became agitated themselves.
The Highlands Park coach finally emerged from the dressing room to honour his post-match media interviews way more than half an hour later than the usual time.
“We were a little bit naïve (in conceding the goal) you know‚” Igesund said.
“Our mentality is not quite right for the Premier League in certain areas. In the first half I thought it was a good game.
“And the way we committed ourselves you know Kapini came out and he committed himself and he made it very‚ very easy for the player to score. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
Igesund is yet to win a league match since he was appointed to replace Allan Freese in October. Highlands have won just one of their eight matches so far‚ losing four and drawing three.
Igesund acknowledged that his team will be up against it in the next coming weeks and admitted he can't wait for the Christmas break so that he works on the psyche of his squad.
Highlands face PSL log leaders Bidvest Wits and African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their next two matches.
“I’m looking forward for the first round to be finished to be honest with you‚” said Igesund.
“So I can take the team away on a training camp‚ work on them and work on their psycho and get them really tuned in for the second half of the season.
“But‚ in the meantime‚ you are quite right we've got to pick up a few points here and there going into the break.
“We need to lift ourselves up we've got a long season ahead of us and I will do what I have to do going forward.” - TMG Sport
Highlands Park need the Christmas break to regroup‚ says Igesund
A visibly disappointed Highlands Park coach Gordon Igesund lashed out at his players for lacking a Premier League mentality after a 1-0 home defeat against Golden Arrows on Sunday afternoon.
Highlands matched Arrows pound for pound in the first half but fell apart in the second in a match watched by a sizeable crowd at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
Danny Phiri scored in the 86th minute for the visitors after Highlands goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini came out of his area when he should not have.
Phiri latched onto a long ball upfront and chipped the ball over the advancing Kapini to seal the win for Clinton Larsen's side – much to the dismay of he Highlands coach.
Igesund looked agitated as he disappeared into the dressingroom after the final whistle. Reporters had to wait outside the home team's dressing room for their post-match interviews. The reporters slowly became agitated themselves.
The Highlands Park coach finally emerged from the dressing room to honour his post-match media interviews way more than half an hour later than the usual time.
“We were a little bit naïve (in conceding the goal) you know‚” Igesund said.
“Our mentality is not quite right for the Premier League in certain areas. In the first half I thought it was a good game.
“And the way we committed ourselves you know Kapini came out and he committed himself and he made it very‚ very easy for the player to score. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
Igesund is yet to win a league match since he was appointed to replace Allan Freese in October. Highlands have won just one of their eight matches so far‚ losing four and drawing three.
Igesund acknowledged that his team will be up against it in the next coming weeks and admitted he can't wait for the Christmas break so that he works on the psyche of his squad.
Highlands face PSL log leaders Bidvest Wits and African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their next two matches.
“I’m looking forward for the first round to be finished to be honest with you‚” said Igesund.
“So I can take the team away on a training camp‚ work on them and work on their psycho and get them really tuned in for the second half of the season.
“But‚ in the meantime‚ you are quite right we've got to pick up a few points here and there going into the break.
“We need to lift ourselves up we've got a long season ahead of us and I will do what I have to do going forward.” - TMG Sport
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