‘Character’ of Marumo Gallants players has coach purring

Marumo Gallants interim coach Raymond Mdaka applauded his players’ show of strong character in their 3-1 win over Chippa United on Wednesday. 

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The win saw Gallants leap off the relegation places in the DStv Premiership standings for the first time this season.

Gallants moved to 14th place with a point separating them from Chippa with four games to go. 

Chippa took the first stab in the game at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium through Etiosa Ighodaro’s 34th minute strike.

Gallants however staged a late second half comeback with Ranga Chavaviro scoring a rare hat-trick.

Chavaviro converted from the penalty spot twice in the 52nd and 55th minute and added the third in the 71st minute. 

Gallants give gallant effort

And Gallants coach Mdaka was left purring, saying his players are showing the right attitude in their games recently. 

“Every game where you get points, where you win is a good game,” said Mdaka. Gallants did not play the attractive football they have come to be known for. 

“If you play a good game but don’t score, that is not a good game. But credit to the boys, they worked. 

“Having gone down 1-0 to peak at 3-1 is not easy. We are happy as the technical team especially with the character that the boys are showing.

“We don’t drop our heads if something has happened and that is a sign of good character. So, I will again credit the boys,” added Mdaka.

Gallants came back from 2-0 down to beat St Eloi Lupopo of DR Congo in a Caf Confederation Cup game a two weeks ago.

After that, they came back from a goal down to beat Royal AM 3-1 in a domestic league game. 

And last weekend, they came back from a goal down to eke out an important point with a 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs. 

But the job is not done yet with just three points separating them from bottom placed Maritzburg United who have a game in hand. 

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“We know where Maritzburg are. And we know where we are… So, it was a do or die. 

“It wasn’t a game where we could take a loss (on the chin). Even them (Chippa), they didn’t want to lose. 

“I think going forward, with the character we showed in the second half, we could have even scored a third or fourth goal,” said Mdaka.