Kododia feels there is no need to panic

Maritzburg United management is not pressing panic buttons yet despite the fact that the team sitting uncomfortably in a precarious position on the Premiership table.

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However, three defeats and a draw in their opening four ABSA Premiership matches has left the “Team of Choice” languishing on second from the bottom and more worryingly, they are one of two teams to have conceded the most number of goals (nine) and scored a mere three goals so far.

The reality is that United points to a weak defence and lack of lethal finishers in front of goal.

The current situation is stark contrast to what things were in the first two matches (AmaZulu 2-3 defeat and Kaizer Chiefs 1-1), where despite failing to bag maximum points, United’s showing raised hope of a team that would deliver this season.

Unfortunately, the wheels have badly come off in dramatic fashion with Lamontville Golden Arrows thumping United 3-0 a fortnight ago. Then Bloemfontein Celtic rubbed salt into their festering wounds with a 2-0 victory.

But United chairman Farouk Kadodia on Wednesday downplayed the seemingly mounting crisis, stressing that the team was merely undergoing a bad patch just like any other team.

“It’s a temporary patch but I’m confident that the team will get out of it soon,” said Kadodia. “There’s no problem with the coach (Ernst Middendorp) and the players. I have addressed the situation with the players and have promised to come back strongly against Moroka Swallows in our next match on October 17,” said Kadodia.

He added that the three-week break due to the MTN8 competition as well as the Fifa week, will afford coach Middendorp ample time to fine tune players who were carrying injuries and integrate those who joined the team later to the same level of fitness.

The fast talking chairman said they will be engaged in a series of friendly games. One senior United player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the coach and the players were not the problem.

“The problem is we don’t have depth in this team,” said the player. “Our key players are battling to rediscover last season’s form. We as players are trying hard to remedy the situation but the management should come to the party by beefing up the team with good players.”

Sadly, there is no way that United’s management can strengthen the team at the moment at least until the January open window period.