Olde Riekerink ready for Wits challenge

Cape Town City coach Jan Olde Riekerink believes his side is not far from finding the winning formula as they prepare to host title-chasing BidVest Wits in the Absa Premiership on Saturday.

City have unexpectedly found themselves in the relegation mix this season, and now face a Wits side who are chasing the title, and are on a good run of domestic form.

Olde Riekerink says his side have given away too many points of late, including letting a two-goal lead slip to draw with AmaZulu at home, and then three headed goals in a loss to Kaizer Chiefs at the weekend.

“Against Chiefs we lost one point and AmaZulu we lost two points, but that hurts even more because we played good but did not create enough chances. But we had chances in the second half to finish the game,” Olde Riekerink said.

“Against Chiefs, we did not play bad, but we had three high balls and they scored three times.

“What is important getting into the flow of sports … we won against Baroka, then we should have won the game against AmaZulu. Then you go into the Chiefs game (with a different mindset) and then the next game. We have to get into the flow.”

The Dutch coach says he has full confidence in his players and feels a turnaround in fortunes is just around the corner.

“I have the belief in every game that we could have had success. I always have the belief in the team that we put on the pitch that it will work. But for different reasons, so far it has not worked as I hoped,” he said.

“The organisation, when we lose the ball, at this moment is good. We don’t have those situations where they get the ball behind out defence and score a goal. The only thing is how we create more chances.”