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Cape Town - University of Pretoria coach Sammy Troughton admits
that this has not been the ideal season for his club, who currently
occupy the 12th position in the Premiership standings.
AmaTuks have recorded just four wins this season and what has been particularly frustrating for Troughton is the points that the club have dropped against some of their less fancied opponents during the campaign.
At the start of December the University of Pretoria came horribly unstuck against AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban, where they lost 2-1. Prior to that points were dropped against Polokwane City, Free State Stars and Platinum Stars, which ultimately sums up Tuks’ campaign this term.
They have failed to collect maximum points during matches that they should have won. This has been compounded by the unceremonious departure of coach Steve Barker, just when the club was starting to turn the corner.
"It's been tough. There is one team at the top running way with the league. We have to show more bravery. We have to try to win as many games as possible," said Troughton, who has indicated that his players will throw caution to the wind when the Premiership resumes in February.
"Our problem has been against the lower teams. Among the top sides that we have played it's only Chiefs that have beaten us," added Troughton.
"We have to beat the teams that are in and around the bottom half of the table."
The primary objective at this juncture is for Tuks to avoid relegation but there is still the possibility that the University of Pretoria could challenge for a spot among the league’s top eight this term. Surely, that would be a meaningful achievement under the circumstances.
AmaTuks have recorded just four wins this season and what has been particularly frustrating for Troughton is the points that the club have dropped against some of their less fancied opponents during the campaign.
At the start of December the University of Pretoria came horribly unstuck against AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban, where they lost 2-1. Prior to that points were dropped against Polokwane City, Free State Stars and Platinum Stars, which ultimately sums up Tuks’ campaign this term.
They have failed to collect maximum points during matches that they should have won. This has been compounded by the unceremonious departure of coach Steve Barker, just when the club was starting to turn the corner.
"It's been tough. There is one team at the top running way with the league. We have to show more bravery. We have to try to win as many games as possible," said Troughton, who has indicated that his players will throw caution to the wind when the Premiership resumes in February.
"Our problem has been against the lower teams. Among the top sides that we have played it's only Chiefs that have beaten us," added Troughton.
"We have to beat the teams that are in and around the bottom half of the table."
The primary objective at this juncture is for Tuks to avoid relegation but there is still the possibility that the University of Pretoria could challenge for a spot among the league’s top eight this term. Surely, that would be a meaningful achievement under the circumstances.
