‘It’s becoming difficult day by day’: Luphahla on TelOne’s near-impossible fight for survival

The mood around TelOne FC is heavy, and even coach Joel Luphahla sounds like a man who knows what is coming.

Speaking after another defeat, this time to Hardrock, Luphahla admitted what many in Gweru have feared for weeks: some of his players “have given up”.

His voice carried the weight of a season unravelling at the worst possible time, as he lamented that energy and morale is critically low at the club while injuries are hitting them hard.

‘SOME HAVE GIVEN UP’ SAYS LUPHAHLA

“I think we are still getting used to the players. We are seeing some weaknesses in them. Some of them have given up, so it’s up to us to try and make sure that we motivate the team, that’s my responsibility as a coach,” he said, cutting a sombre figure.

“At this stage of the season we are seeing players having hamstring injuries and it tells us that maybe they’re not fit. When you’re playing for relegation it’s difficult.

“The output that you put compared to other teams is different. They are putting a lot of effort but it’s becoming difficult day by day,” Luphahla added.

TelOne FC at Chahwanda Stadium. Picture by TelOne FC/Facebook

Simply put, the numbers tell a grim story. A 2-0 home loss to Triangle FC left TelOne on 20 points from 28 games, third from bottom. Agama moved to 25 points. Hunters sit on 28 in 14th, the last place of safety.

With six games left, TelOne need to win them all while also hoping Hunters lose at least three. But even Luphahla knows how thin that hope is. He added: “A point is not good for us anymore. We need to start winning games.”

Agama’s 1-0 win over Manica Diamonds on Saturday pushed the Wifi Boys further adrift in a three-way battle they are now losing. The next game is in two weeks, at home at Ascot Stadium against Ngezi Platinum Stars, another difficult task.

“We play our next game in two weeks time at home versus Ngezi. Another difficult game that we need to try and salvage three points. But at the end of the day we are still in the PSL and we need to compete and make sure that we get the three points at home.”

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