Coach Brandon Truter has given an assessment of Swallows’ maiden campaign in the top-flight, while confirming that the club is set to lose some of their prominent players.
After securing promotion in stunning fashion, the Birds managed to have a decent campaign in the DStv Premiership as they mounted a slight title challenge earlier on in the campaign owing to their dynamism in the transfer market.
However, a second half of the season performance was a bit poor and that saw the team accumulate a PSL record of 20 draws as they eventually finished in sixth position.
Truter, who spoke to the media after their final match of the season against Baroka, which ended in a draw, said his side could be without six big-name players next season, although the gaffer did not give any names.
Sifiso Hlanti, Kgaogelo Sekgota, Given Thibedi, Ruzaigh Gamildien and DStv Premiership defender of the season nominee Njabulo Ngcobo are some of the players expected to leave the club.
“Tough season, extremely tough, mistakes were made, had some good moments, had some bad moments, it’s how we grow from it. I’m so happy with the effort the guys put in as well. I think on the field we learnt so much in our debut season in the DStv Premiership. We started as a house on fire but then the analysis teams started analyzing us and it became tougher and tougher, and they capitalized on our weakness, so it’s something to work on,” he told the club’s media department.
“I’m already looking forward to the pre-season because I’m anxious to get the second season started and hopefully, we get our new additions in. It’s gonna be tough, we are losing about six of our main players that have started majority of the games so it’s also a rebuilding process and that excites me as well, but I’m grateful, I’m thankful and also I’m humbled about the staff around me,” he added.
Gamildien in particular, is the player likely to bring the most revenue from sales for Swallows. All of the expected revenue from player sales are expected to be used for proper acquisitions ahead of next season.