Wage gap killing clubs

Johannesburg - Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela says exorbitant player salaries in the Premiership has placed a burden on smaller clubs.

Read: Wits CEO in no rush

"We are operating on a tight budget and it is difficult to get players we want because they don't come cheap," Komphela said.

"The wage gap is killing our football, especially for teams like Maritzburg United. We don't have a sponsor and we rely on the PSL monthly grant to survive. The important thing is to soldier on with the players we have and I think they have done well."

Komphela, however, said he remained optimistic about his team's performance when the league resumed in February, starting with a clash against Wits at home.

He said his side were still looking to finish within the top-eight by the end of the season.

"We struggled in December but that happens to most teams, especially the smaller teams like United," Komphela said.

"The inconsistency was like a rude awakening for us and we have corrected all our problems. We started thinking that we are invincible hence we paid the price but all is not lost."

Operating on a tight budget, Komphela said they would continue with their trademark one-touch football.

Seasoned campaigners like skipper Ashley Hartog, Ghanaian international Mohamed Awal, Mondli Cele, and leading goalscorer Mohammed Anas delighted their fans with some crisp football.

Khompela said his charges would be reinvigorated following the break and expected his side to fire on all cylinders.

"We will return to our motto of making it difficult for the opposition," Khompela said.

"We have a bunch of hungry players who are ready to fight for this team and I don't see why we cannot be a team to fight all the way.

"All the teams playing us know it won't be a walk in the park."