Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp admits some of his players are not at the required level to compete in the DStv Premiership.
Middendorp was brought into the struggling club to help them survive relegation.
He was signed to replace the sacked Sean Bartlett but hasn’t been able to turn around their performances or results, with Spurs having claimed just three points all season, when under the guidance of interim boss Sean Connor.
The club are currently bottom of the league standings; some seven points behind Richards Bay and 12 adrift of TS Galaxy.
Middendorp’s side last lost 3-0 to league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and are next in action against AmaZulu on Friday.
The head coach said in the Citizen: “Several players are not prepared for the PSL at the moment, we must be honest. There are several players (with talent) in the club, but they need guidance.
“There’s a lot of talent, but it is a certain challenge of being able to have some real physical power to be successful in stopping a (Sundowns) player who is driving through the midfield, be it (Lebohang) Maboe, or if it is (Bongani) Zungu, or if it is (Sipho) Mbule. We just really need power.”
Middendorp added even having enough talent is not always enough.
“Preparing the players doesn’t mean that you are not able to identify that they have talent. Talent is one parameter,” he explained.
“The professionalism starts with how strong I’m prepared to work on being physical and there were a lot of moments (against Sundowns) where it went against us…talent is not the question. It’s not an issue.”