Inter City FC head coach Bradley August has sounded the alarm, warning that “heads will roll” unless his side quickly reverses its horror start to the ABC Motsepe League season.
Speaking to No Bones with Jones, an unapologetic August did not hide his frustration as he reflected on a campaign that has fallen well short of expectations, despite still being in its early stages.
Inter City have managed just two wins from their opening seven Stream A fixtures, with three defeats, two draws and a goal difference of minus three leaving them languishing in ninth place.
The disappointing series of results prompted the former Bafana Bafana international to hold a crunch meeting with his squad on Monday, delivering a blunt assessment of the club’s current predicament.
“I was very open and honest when I told them that if things are not going to improve then tough decisions will have to be made and heads will roll,” said August. “And I’m not happy. Look, we are not running away from the fact that we are underperforming and the pressure is there for everybody involved. So, they know where they stand with me now.”
According to the experienced coach, who previously enjoyed spells with Hout Bay United and Crystal Palace, Inter City’s Achilles heel has been a fragile defence plagued by costly lapses in concentration at key moments of matches.
“We can’t keep clean sheets. We are scoring in all our games and creating chances, but we can’t keep clean sheets,” August explained. “Our concentration is not the greatest at the moment and if I tell you the times we concede, it’s at critical stages of the game, like before half-time or just after half-time.
We’re conceding from set-pieces and we are very fragile at the back. That is something we need to work on. It’s a mental thing, I’d say.”
Despite his criticism, August was quick to shoulder responsibility for the side’s struggles.
“Obviously I signed all the players and I pick the team. I know the players and they know me. So, the buck stops with me.”
City face another stern test on Friday when they travel to Thornton to take on August’s former club Santos. With the frontrunners like FN Rangers already beginning to open a gap, the coach knows his side can ill-afford another setback.
For August, however, the priority extends beyond securing three points.
“We don’t just need a win, we need clean sheets as well,” he emphasized. “That’s what’s really worrying for me personally. Santos at home is another difficult hurdle. I know because I was on coaching them last season. But we’ll prepare as best we can and go all out for maximum points and, hopefully, a clean sheet as well,” August concluded.
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