Akbay pleads for patience

Highlanders coach Erol Akbay who is slowly coming under pressure over poor results says the team’s fans should understand the situation the club is in at the moment.

Speaking after a shock 1-0 defeat to basement side Tsholotsho at Babourfields stadium which gave Iziqolo zeZhwane their first win of the season, Akbay said the club cannot be in quick transition after losing good players.

” Fans need to understand that it’s not easy to lose four quality strikers in two seasons. After losing players, its difficult to find replacements especially here in Zimbabwe where other teams are also failing to get strikers. The club doesn’t have money to look for expensive players outside the country. We tried getting local players from the first division but there there are strikers in the area, ” said Akbay.

” Even if you get another coach the problem will remain because the club does not have money to afford quality strikers. Even if we had the money to buy strikers during the mid season transfer window, still they would have needed more time to gel and adapt to the style of play. But the bottom line is if you can’t score, you can’t win,”.

This is the third defeat for Highlanders at Barbourfields in recent matches after going down 2-1 to Bulawayo City before losing 2-0 to ZPC Kariba two weeks ago.

Akbay has lamented to departure of striker Prince Dube who joined South African side Supersport while Roderick Mutuma moved to debutants Yadah who are owned by PHD Ministries under Prophet Magaya.

Last year Bosso lost Bruce Kangwa who was the leading scorer back then to Azam of Tanzania while Know Mutizwa joined Bidvest Wits before being loaned out to Golden Arriws.

In their last defeat, away at ZPC, Akbay blamed poor officiating for the result. The 2006 champions are away to Ngezi Platinum this weekend.

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