John Maduka upbeat despite defeat
Former Flames midfielder John Maduka believes Royal AM will bounce back despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to Moroka Swallows in the opening match of the DStv Premiership.
Maduka saw his former side Bloemfontein Celtic’s status sold to AM and relocated to Kwa-Zulu-Natal.
“I think we did not play the game that we wanted. It is our first game of the season and it is always tricky,” he is quoted as saying on Times Live.
“You could see, most of the time, we allowed them to have the ball, and after winning the ball, we wanted to try to hit them on a counter attack, something which did not happen, because we were so slow in reaction and going forward.”
The Malawian and the rest of the technical team, who were contracted to Celtic, were maintained at AM.
After relocating to KZN, Maduka told South Africa’s online football magazine www.kickoff.com that he was impressed by the professionalism since his arrival in KZN.
“Whenever, there is a transition there will be challenges here and there but ,you know, we’re welcomed here. If you come to the village and see where the team trains, you see the way things are done here are professional,” he is quoted as saying.
Maduka could not be reached.
Sports analyst George Kaudza Masina was optimistic that Maduka would do well at his new club.
“If he is given enough support, he will build a good team,” he said.
Maduka is the only Malawian coach in the DStv Premiership but there are more Flames players namely striker Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates, Richard Mbulu and Gerald Phiri Junior (both Baroka FC) and Limbikani Mzava for AmaZulu.
