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Cape Town - AmaZulu coach Cavin Johnson has downplayed the importance of claiming a top-eight finish in the Absa Premiership, insisting there is no difference between finishing 5th and 11th.
The Durban outfit were docked six points in September last year after being found guilty of unlawfully terminating Phineas Nambandi's contract but have recovered well from the setback.
They currently occupy 11th place in the Premiership standings, four points clear of the dreaded drop zone and six points behind Kaizer Chiefs, Polokwane City and Bloemfontein Celtic.
And, Johnson says that his target is always to challenge for top spot in the league and if that is not possible, then it doesn't matter where his side finishes.
"It is something I have been against, and this is my personal opinion, that if I can't make the top place then [position] two, three, four, five, 12 is all the same," Johnson is quoted as saying by TimesLIVE website.
"That's my mentality. If I don't win it, then if you come fifth you might as well come 11th. I was once was runner-up in the league, but it might as well have been 13th place, it was the same thing.
"I believe that if I can't make number one, what's the use of making top eight. It's just how I feel - when we play for the league, I want to win the league."
However, Johnson did concede that a top-three finish would be a welcome situation as it would open up a path to the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
"I do appreciate Africa and if I could I'd like to play there every year because we are not as strong as we think we are in those competitions," he added.
