Results may not yet tell the full story, but Santos FC head coach Gerald Stober remains convinced the famous Cape club is steadily moving in the right direction.
The People’s Team have endured an inconsistent start to their ABC Motsepe League campaign in Stream A, but a return of two wins, two draws and just one defeat from their last five matches has provided Stober with the necessary encouragement that the rebuilding process is beginning to bear fruit.
“Progress is very slow, and people get impatient,” Stober told No Bones with Jones. “When you’re starting to build something, you’re going to get a few results, then hit a dip or a plateau. Progress takes a long time.”
The former Seaside Spurs mentor believes Santos’ recent form offers tangible evidence that the squad is beginning to find its feet in one of the country’s most unforgiving competitions.
“If we look at the last five games, I’d say that shows progress in itself. Many of these players have never played in this league before, so we need to keep that in mind. But ultimately the buck stops with me.”
One of the most encouraging aspects for Stober has been the development of depth within the squad. Despite being without four regular starters in their most recent outing, Santos still managed to remain competitive.
“The progress shows that players are now able to step in when needed, and that’s a big positive. So, it is important we build on that going forward.”
A cornerstone of the club’s rebuild has been Stober’s willingness to place his faith in players with limited exposure to ABC Motsepe League football.
“I’ll use the term relatively unknown players, but their exposure to the ABC has been minimal,” he further explained. Every training session they put their hands up and say, ‘I’m here and I’m ready.’ We also don’t select teams based on age. But there’s still a lot to learn and a lot of development that still needs to happen.”
The challenge has been made even tougher by competing in a stream packed with seasoned campaigners and former league winners.
“You’re competing against experienced teams who have been there before and they’re relentless. You don’t have the luxury of time, so we have to be at our very best every single week.”
Despite the pressure that comes with coaching a club of Santos’ stature, Stober believes the mentality within the squad is improving.
“The mentality is getting better and we’re finding a rhythm. So, now it’s about establishing standards and maintaining them. Consistency is key”
The 57-year-old former Hellenic and Orlando Pirates goal poacher also paid tribute to the commitment shown by his players throughout the early stages of the campaign.
“There have been players who have surprised me with how they’ve stepped up. I can’t commend them enough. They’ve worked exceptionally hard.”
While acknowledging that football remains a results-driven business, Stober insists Santos are laying the foundations for sustained success rather than chasing short-term fixes.
“Those pressures are always there. Whether you’re playing or coaching, results matter. But I believe in what we’re building. We just need to keep working, keep improving and solve the technical issues along the way,” the former Bafana Bafana striker concluded.
The next test of that progress, however, promises to be another stern one when Santos travel to Strand this weekend to face a Young Bafana side that has been a revelation under the watchful eye of Rezaan Jacobs.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Fixtures courtesy of the 4TH MOMENT
