Gordon Igesund: NOW Moroka Swallows are title contenders

[kickoff]

Posted: 2012-03-16 14:37

Moroka Swallows coach Gordon Igesund says his team are genuine title  contenders, after stepping to within four points of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Swallows have shrugged off the struggles of last season and have quietly raised their hands as outside favourites for the title, standing on the same points tally of 33 as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

And having the experience of winning titles, Igesund is now not shying away from saying he can box with the Big Three in the title fight.

"We are now in a position to challenge for the title," says Igesund, who before now has been playing down The Birds' potential to cause an upset in the championship.

"All along I have chosen to stay quiet and not to talk about our chances because we are a team that just last season was stuck in the relegation fight. So to keep the pressure off I have had to insist on that we focus on the game ahead.

"I mean, all along I told the players to focus on the top eight, but I can now say we are in it and up for the fight. With us I know that even if we keep up the pace of the top teams, not so many notice, which works to our advantage.

"But we are in this race to challenge and will make the other big boys feel our presence up there. Right now I can safely say 57-60 points should be enough to win this League which means if we win seven of the remaining games then we are in there for a big fight," Igesund says.

Faced with a tricky contest against AmaZulu on Saturday night, Igesund is in a buoyant mood after coming out with a full set of points away at Free State Stars in mid-week.

Igesund has all his players available for selection for the match against an AmaZulu team that has just come off a morale boosting cup win over Ajax Cape Town.

Swallows' opponents on Saturday night