Arrows throws down the gauntlet

The gifted but normadic coach, Woody Jacobs, thrown in the hotseat at struggling coastal outfit Eleven Arrows, has vowed his team will not be relegated come end of the season despite a bad start to the season in which the team has collected only three points out of a possible 30.
In an interview with the Economist, Jacobs who was given only two games to prove his mettle before he can sign a permanent deal, maintained that Eleven Arrows will be occupying a mid-table position at the end of season.
He said: “I believe we will be sitting in mid-table come end of the season. Players respect me and you know what they say, a new broom sweeps clean.
“I believe in my quality as a coach and you need to make the players believe in your philosophy and then everything will follow. I believe I will bring a different vibe to the team in terms of my approach.”
The burly coach, in charge of Tigers at the beginning of the season before being shown the exit door in controversial fashion, said he was only given two games to turn around the fortunes of the ailing club before he could be given a long term contract.
He believes he has an ace up his sleeve that will see him get a permanent move.
“ I believe in my ability. I told them (management of Eleven Arrows) that I can give them four points from the two games. We want to make Kuisebmond a place where no other team can come and get a point.
Jacobs who had previous stints with Civics, Orlando Pirates, Tigers and was also linked with first division moneybags, Monitronic, before resurfacing at the coast, said the must win game against fellow struggling and strong relegation candidates, United Stars will decide his future at the coastal club.
Eleven Arrows surprised even themselves when they held former champions African Stars to a goalless draw, in Woody Jacob’s first game in charge last weekend.
The coach was however diplomatic about his team’s chances this weekend against the wipping boys of the league who have lost eight games and only managed two draws in ten games.
“I expect a tough encounter in Rundu because we are playing against a team that is also struggling like us. I expect a tough match,” was all Jacobs could say. But what makes him so confident despite leading a team that has only collected three points from ten games and having the uneviable record of being the worst attacking team in the league, scoring only three goals?
“I believe in my ability. Eleven arrows is a dissent squad and I don’t think the team deserves to be where it is,” the confident Jacobs said. He added: “I came in and suggested a few things and the management have responded well.”
But after leaking 17 goals – the second worst defensive record in the league – the coach conceded that he needed a good goalkeeper in the next transfer window in January. Let me be honest, the team lost a lot of good players and any team will struggle if you lose the core of the team. We need a goalkeeper especially and at least one good striker. All in all ,we neeed to add at least four good players in January.”