Kruger United boss Mongoya urges players to trust the process after winless start

Kruger United coach Abram Mongoya has called on his players, technical staff and management to remain committed to their plans after the newly promoted side began life in the Betway Premiership without a victory in their first five matches.

The Village boys are bottom of the table with one point, having suffered four defeats and one draw since earning promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Their latest setback came on Tuesday, when they were beaten 4-0 by reigning champions Orlando Pirates.

Mongoya said the result reflected the difference in quality and finishing between the two teams, although he felt Kruger United had enjoyed long spells of possession and created opportunities against the defending champions.

“Firstly, congratulations to the opponents for the victory, hard luck to my boys because personally I think we dominated the game, we could’ve created slightly clearer chances and the difference of quality and superiority you can see, they get one chance they punish you, they get another one, out of every two chances they got they scored,” Mongoya told SuperSport TV.

Orlando Pirates’ early penalty put Kruger United under pressure, but Mongoya praised his players for continuing to follow their intended style against a side he described as difficult to contain because of its organisation, aggression and pace.

“So, for me you look at the first half we kept the possession, we kept them on the back-foot, the unfortunate penalty in the earlier minutes of the game and it sets you on the back-foot but for the boys to show courage.

“And to play the want we want to play, pin Pirates back a big team like Pirates with the structure they have, aggression, speed it’s very difficult but for the boys I think they did well in those moments. I think we just need to get clearer with our chances and functioning,” he continued.

Mongoya believes there has been gradual improvement from the team’s opening match, despite the lack of results. He urged the players to maintain their belief and said Kruger United could become much harder to beat during the second half of the season.

“Yes, I think the boys must trust the process, technical staff must never doubt, hopefully the management will also stick to what we’re trying to do because there’s progress from our game 1 to where we are now. (Laughs) I think second round (of the season) is going to be very difficult to beat Kruger,” Mongoya said.

The coach remains confident that the team can reverse its fortunes soon, suggesting that a first win could provide the momentum needed to change its position in the table.

“I think very, very I can promise game number eight, ten we will turn around things because we just need one victory, for me you look at the numbers at halftime you above 60-something percent with the ball possession, you’ve got more than four chances created versus a team like that and they get only two chances.

“For me, it’s the unfortunate part where we need to learn in this league you need to be very decisive with the little chances that you get,” concluded the coach.