Gift Sithole: Platinum Stars will keep fighting to avoid relegation

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Friday Mar 09, 2018. 14:00

Fresh from scoring his first goal for Platinum Stars in the South African Premier Soccer League, defender Gift Sithole says they will not give up.

The central defender netted in their league match against Free State Stars last Saturday night, but still they ended up losing 2-1.

Resulting from the defeat, the Dikwena remain rooted at the bottom of the standings and have seven matches left to fight for their PSL status.

However, the Tembisa-born defender insists they will not go down to the National First Division without a fight.

“It’s tough but I think we still need to focus. We still have a chance. We haven’t played the last match as yet,” said Sithole.

“We must try to win the next game at all costs. Honestly the guys are down but as senior players we have to lift their spirits. I have belief that we still have a chance.

“We haven’t being relegated. We can make it. One win is going to open a lot of things for us.”

In their last two matches, Roger De Sa’s men have conceded in the dying stages of the match with both Maritzburg United and Ea Lla Koto scoring late to inflict 2-1 defeats.

Despite the setback, the defender believes they need to work on their concentration levels and revealed he feels bad.

“As a defender I feel bad. If you check most of the games, we conceded in the last 15 minutes of the match. I feel bad because we don’t concentrate,” he added.

“It’s something we will work on because we always try our best every time we play.”

As they are out of the Nedbank Cup, the Phokeng-based side will face Bloemfontein Celtic away on March 18.