Da Gama credits Magesi defence for purple patch

Magesi coach Owen da Gama has downplayed their top-eight chances after back-to-back wins over KZN sides Richards Bay and Golden Arrows aided them to move away from the relegation zone.

Magesi beat Arrows 1-0 courtesy of Lehlogonolo Mokone's goal at Seshego Stadium over the weekend, having had outwitted Bay via a similar scoreline at the same venue earlier in the week. Magesi, who spent the better part of this season in the relegation zone, are now midtable and closer to the top eight.

However, Da Gama has insisted that they weren't obsessing about being in the top eight, saying they were taking it one game at a time.

"We take it one game at a time. Every game for us is like a cup final, that's how we look at it...we don't look at who's winning, who's got what points, who's drawing. We are not worried about the top eight, that's still too far for us,'' Da Gama said.

Da Gama has attributed their newly-found purple patch on being tight at the back, also suggesting their performance against Arrows was a tactical masterclass.

"When you're trying to get a team right, the most important thing is, even Alex Ferguson [the legendary Manchester United manager] will tell you, the best coaches will tell you in the world, if you defend well you've got a chance to win and we've been working very, very resolutely on our defence,'' the Magesi coach stated.

"I just think, from a tactical perspective, we got it spot-on today [on Saturday]. We understand how they [Arrows] play and how they build up and I think we didn't allow them to do that, so they had to resort to playing wide, which isn't really their game...they come through the middle but we closed them down in that regard.''

Magesi's next game is at Seshego Stadium again on March 29, after the Fifa break, against Stellenbosch.

SowetanLIVE