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National Super League debutants Mara Sugar FC coach Steve Biko has decried the team’s weak mental and physical approach in the new season, saying it’s a detriment to success.

Biko said the attitude is hurting the team’s progress and has urged his players to up the ante if the team is to achieve anything tangible in the league.  

The sugar millers have lost three consecutive matches and drawn two in their last five league matches and these are statistics that do not amuse Biko. And as they are set for Saturday’s matchday ten encounters with Dandora Love FC at Awendo Green Stadium, Biko is worried about his team’s mental preparedness.

“These are not the kind of results we expected although I can say that the positive aspect is that the team has been training hard and that it will attain its benchmarks sooner rather than later,”

“My concern is whether the players will demonstrate what they have been learning in training. We need a paradigm shift if we are to offer any meaningful challenge in the league,” Biko said.

He said their losses are not a true reflection of how they play on the pitch. And as they get ready to host Dandora,  Biko is banking on the one-week break they have had in training to rectify the glaring mistakes he has seen in his team. “We have lost thrice in a row even though we dominate play.

We have been conceding some easy goals that turn the tide around making it dfficult for us to win matches. I’m working tirelessly on the mental strength of my players because that’s where we are currently not doing well since in every match you’ll find that we concede the first goal from what I term as a gift to the opponents,” coach Biko said.

“Otherwise we are set for Saturday’s tie versus Dandora at home and I’m hoping the boys will rise to the occasion, play for the name of the club and get a win from the match,” coach Biko concluded.