Ngubane wary of complacency from Royal AM

Royal AM DStv Diski Challenge coach Sazi Ngubane has cautioned his troops to guard against complacency when they face Marumo Gallants on Saturday (2 October) at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Kick-off is at 10am CAT (SA, GMT+2).

Last weekend Royal defeated their provincial foes AmaZulu FC 3-2 in a match played at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.

Since the Diski Challenge started, Royal, who are playing in the Premier Soccer League reserve league for the first time, are yet to lose a match. They have surpassed expectations of a new team in the league. In three games, they have won twice and drawn once to get seven points.

They are second in the log standings with the same points as TS Galaxy, who are at the summit. The teams are separated by goal difference. Ngubane admitted that he did not expect the lads to do well, considering that the team was gathered in a short period.

But since they have realised that they can compete, they should not get carried away thinking that they have arrived.

“I cannot say what to expect, we are a new team. I just tell them (players) that we are here to compete, everybody must work hard,” Ngubane said.

“I’ve been encouraging them to stay levelheaded, we have not arrived, I always tell them that. Working with young boys sometimes you cannot even shout at them, they are still learning. Sometimes the fact that they hear we are on TV (our match will be broadcast live), they get too excited but those are all the things we are trying to manage.”

Royal will hope to continue with their form when they face Marumo, another new team in the DStv Diski Challenge.

“We played away three matches and we did exceptionally well we are happy with that. Now we have another game away to Marumo, the biggest thing would be complacency, then we end up losing,” Ngubane added.

“We are not here for winning we are about developing players and what I have told them is that when we're playing away we get a point and at home we secure maximum points. I do not have a certain target. We are a team that will just compete and see how far it goes, everyone will have to work hard in order to beat us. The boys are willing to do what coaches say, that makes things easy for everyone.”

In the past three matches, Royal defeated Chippa United 3-2, drew 1-1 with Maritzburg United, and recently defeated Usuthu 3-2.