Milford FC boss Pupuma says PSL newcomers are learning from every challenge

Milford FC coach and chairperson Xanti Pupuma says the club’s first season in the PSL has provided valuable lessons as the newly promoted side continues to compete near the top of the Betway Premiership.

Milford FC are fourth in the standings, despite being newcomers to South Africa’s top flight. Their only league defeats have come away from home against Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.

Orlando Pirates also ended Milford’s Carling Knockout campaign on Tuesday evening, but Pupuma does not believe that result will damage their progress in the league.

“As a team that just came up, the focus is on staying in the division and being competitive,” said Pupuma, who combines his coaching role with his responsibilities as chairperson.

“It is honestly not all doom and gloom losing to Pirates in the Carling, and I don’t think it will affect our performance in the league.”

Pupuma said Milford’s main priority was to raise the intensity of their performances so they could match the demands of the PSL more consistently.

“The only thing that we are trying to work on is to improve the intensity so that we are at the level of most of the teams in the PSL,” he said.

“That is going to take time and so far, I have been happy and impressed.”

The club’s strong start has also made the campaign significant away from the pitch, with Pupuma describing the experience as an important stage in Milford’s development as a brand.

“But as the chairperson, it is an amazing journey for the brand,” he said.

Pupuma added that competing in the PSL had shown him that the fundamental nature of football remained unchanged, even though the profile of the opponents and the scale of the competition were different.

“What I have picked up is that football is the same at the end of the day, you still get the old tricks when you are playing away,” he said.

“Some delays, people trying to do this and that in trying to put you off.”

He said those experiences were familiar from his playing days and had also been evident in Milford’s matches against established PSL opponents.

“Same thing that I experienced when I was playing against Msinga United is exactly what I’m experiencing when I’m playing Orlando Pirates,” Pupuma said.

“For me, as the chairperson, that part is not that different.”