"Relegation is not even on my mind and I sleep well at night" - Sakala

Newly appointed Baroka FC coach Jacob Sakala has made an ambitious proclamation that he will guide the Limpopo side to a top ten finish at the end of the season.

Baroka reached the halfway mark of the Absa Premiership campaign rooted at the bottom of the pile with only two wins from 15 matches to spark fears that they may make an immediate return to the National First Division (NFD) next season.

Club chairman Khurishi Mphahlele acted swiftly and brought Sakala on board as head coach earlier this month to replace inexperienced Kgoloko Thobejane‚ who has been re-deployed to an assistant coach position together with former Platinum Stars midfielder Edward Williams.

“Relegation is not even on my mind‚ I sleep well at night because I know that we have a team that is capable of finishing the season in the top ten or even higher‚" he said.

"The boys are playing good football and they understand my philosophy of playing quick on the attack and solid in defence.

"I want the players to do the basics right while at the same time entertaining.”

Sakala‚ who saved Mpumalanga Black Aces‚ Black Leopards and Dynamos from relegation in the past‚ said there was nothing seriously wrong with the players in the first round.

“The previous technical team did well with the players they had but I think they started to feel a little of pressure when positive results were not coming as they expected.

"The spirit was a little bit down but we have managed to work on the mental side of things.

"They showed last weekend during the Mbombela Spectacular tournament in Mpumalanga‚ where we beat Mbombela United 3-1 and held Bidvest Wits 0-0‚ that they are up for the tough challenge.

"Given what I saw at the Mbomebla tournament‚ I am hopeful that we will do well in the second round of the league campaign because the hunger and confidence in the players is back.

"Most of these players are enjoying life in the Premier Soccer League and they don’t want to return back to the NFD.”

Sakala added that he has a good working relationship with Thobejane and technical director Mark Harrison‚ who was also recruited earlier this month to help revive the club's fortunes. - TMG Digital