Kruger United target Top Eight despite slow Betway Premiership start

Kruger United sporting director Elasto Kapowezha says the club remain firmly on course to finish in the Top Eight of the Betway Premiership, despite collecting only one point from their opening three matches in their debut top-flight season.

The Bushbuckridge-based club began life in the division with a 3-1 defeat by Kaizer Chiefs before drawing 0-0 away to Marumo Gallants. They then suffered a 2-1 loss against Milford FC, leaving them with a single point from a possible nine.

Kapowezha, however, believes it is far too soon to draw conclusions about Kruger United’s prospects or suggest the team is facing a crisis.

“At this stage, we cannot describe the situation as a problem per se; after three games it’s always gonna be difficult for anyone. It’s too early to judge a team,” Kapowezha said.

The former PSL star pointed to the demands of the opening fixtures and the adjustment required by a newly promoted side competing at the highest level.

Kruger have played two of their three matches away from home, while their only home fixture so far was against Kaizer Chiefs. Kapowezha said the team had taken encouragement from earning a point against Marumo Gallants, although he felt they should have produced a better result against Milford FC.

“It’s too early to start to think there are issues or structural problems within the team. I think we played two away games. We played one home game against Chiefs. We got a point against Marumo Gallants away, and we could have done better against Milford. We can do better. We are disappointed we lost against Milford, but we are not in panic mode. We know we can easily turn it around.”

Kruger United’s next league match will provide an immediate test of their ambitions. They host Durban City FC on Tuesday, the club they have identified as an example of what can be achieved after promotion.

Durban City FC finished in the Top Eight during their first season in the top flight, won a major trophy and secured qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup. Kapowezha said Kruger United hoped to follow a similar path, while making clear that avoiding a prolonged battle at the bottom of the table was the immediate priority.

“For us, the objectives are clear: we just want to make sure we are comfortable at the end of the season. We don’t want to be hovering around the danger zone. We want to fight for a Top-Eight finish, but if we don’t, it’s not a train smash. We are aiming to be in the Top Eight,” he added.

The meeting with Durban City FC will therefore bring together two newly promoted sides with different early-season narratives: Kruger United are still searching for their first victory, while Durban City FC provide the benchmark for what a newcomer can accomplish in the Betway Premiership.

“Clubs that were promoted last season, like Durban City FC, ended up in the Top Eight, so if they can, then why not us? We just don’t want to be floating around the bottom four. We are competing for a Top Eight spot. The team is going nowhere. We can’t read too much in the first three games.”