Crystal Palace co-head coach Bradley August (pictured) says his team is still a work in progress, but the future of the club looks good.
Palace, who won promotion to the Hollywoodbets Third Division at the end of last season, has thus far been punching above its weight given that the team has a fairly young squad that is in a rebuilding phase.
After a slow start, back-to-back losses in their first two games against Vasco da Gama and Silver Spurs, the Manenberg-based outfit has gone on a five-game winning streak, thrashing Hout Bay FC 6-2 in the previous fixture over the weekend.
Prior to that, Palace saw off Greenwood Athletic (2-1), Jomos Power (1-0), Ocean View (1-0) and Saxon Rovers by a similar scoreline. Despite this August emphasized that it is still early days and their first objective is to get to the 30-point mark which will ensure their status for next season.
“We’ve got 15 points and we want to reach 30 points as that is the mark where you don’t get relegated, and that is what we are striving for,” August told No Bones with Jones. “If you have just come up, that is the same in the PSL and NFD, where you first secure your safety.”
August, who has enjoyed a great deal of success with Palace in the past, said he is pleased to see that his young (local) troops are starting to buy into his philosophy and vision planted with the experience of Goodwin Lewis, Mark Hendricks (conditioning coach) and Shafiek Isaacs (assistant).
“We do have some experienced players that have played in the Motsepe and the Castle League (Third Division) in the past and we are not going to run away from that, but our ‘unders’ are very inexperienced,” August conceded. “It is their first time playing in this league – but they are eager and committed and showing good attitude, you know. I would say that we are still a work in progress but our future looks good,” the former Bafana Bafana player added.
Palace welcome CT City to the Greens in Manenberg on Friday (15:30) for a top-of-the-table clash, knowing that maximum points will not give them the top position, but a big psychological edge going into their last fixture against Wanderers FC on Sunday before the festive break.
“Look, there are no easy games for anyone,” August further stated. “Therefore, you cannot take any fixture for granted. With 30 odd games and we all play for one position, there is so much at stake but we have to remain humble and focussed on our objectives,” August concluded.
