Seema backs youthful Siwelele squad to improve despite key departures

Lehlohonolo Seema believes his Siwelele side will be stronger this season, even after a significant exodus of key players ahead of the new Betway Premiership campaign.

The coach has seen a host of established names depart, including goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, who has returned to Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as Gamphani Lungu and Neo Rapoo, who have both joined Orlando Pirates. Pogiso Sanoka, Lyle Lakay, Gape Moralo, Samir Nurkovic, Nyiko Mobbie and Chibuike Ohizu are also among those to have left the club.

In their place, Siwelele have turned to largely unheralded and inexperienced recruits, with only Thabiso Sesane and Selaela Rasebotja arriving from a top-flight giant in Orlando Pirates.

Yet Seema is adamant that, in terms of overall structure and balance, he has a more competitive squad at his disposal than the one that completed last season.

“I think I have a better team than I had last season, to be honest with you. I must be careful when I say that because the other guys who were there last season, they did very well,” Seema told the media at the Betway Premiership launch on Wednesday.

“But honestly, when I say ‘better’, I mean in terms of the depth and balance of the team in all positions. I can tell you that we don’t have a number of injured players.”

Depth over star power

Siwelele have moved away from signing established names, opting instead for relatively unknown players who, according to Seema, bring energy and ambition rather than status.

“The guys that have left have been replaced, but we didn’t replace them with big hitters,” he said.

“But I can tell you that come the end of the season, I will be losing more players again because we have recruited very well. We are a team that doesn’t want to sell our players; we want to make sure that next season we keep them, so we can start challenging for honours.”

Seema’s comments underline a belief that the club’s transfer strategy, built around young and hungry footballers, could help Siwelele become more competitive in the long term, even if it raises the prospect of renewed interest in their standout performers at the end of the campaign.

Confident start after full pre-season

Siwelele begin their Betway Premiership season at home to TS Galaxy at Free State Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off at 17:30.

Seema says the mood in the camp is optimistic as they head into their opener, boosted by the rare luxury of a full pre-season under his guidance.

“For the first time in my coaching career, I have done a preseason. So everything for me is positive. I even said, let’s challenge all the cups that are there. We must have a positive spirit and a positive energy,” he said.

“I have been working with the guys. I enjoyed the preseason and the players that came to join us.”

The coach believes supporters will quickly see the impact of that preparation, particularly from the fresh faces in the squad.

“Some of them you will see for the first time. You will see a lot of excitement because there are players that are young and hungry and looking forward to making their debut. They have been watching from afar how Siwelele has been playing.”

With a reshaped squad, a completed pre-season and a stated ambition to compete in every cup competition, Seema enters the new Betway Premiership campaign convinced that Siwelele can progress, despite the loss of several established stars.