Dan Malesela was always optimistic about taking Baroka to playoffs

Malesela was speaking after watching his team play an exciting one-all draw against the University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium in Pretoria yesterday.

This is a result that took both teams to the promotional play-offs and will wait for the confirmation of a team that will finish 15th in the DStv Premiership.

Malesela says they never gave up.

"I was always optimistic to be honest, very optimistic because there wasn't a time where I didn't think about the playoffs and making it to the playoffs. The reality is that they were scares here and there that you wouldn't make it but as I looked at the points and look at how we play, I always felt we just need to get certain wins and we'd be right there with the other teams," Malesela said.

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Baroka FC finished third on the log with 47 points from 30 matches.

Even before this crucial game against AmaTuks, Malesela, a seasoned coach with experience at Chippa United, TS Galaxy, and Marumo Gallants, had been meticulously planning their approach for the tough play-offs.

"Unfortunately, as I was sitting the week, I think Thursday I started thinking about this thing and I said you know, don't underestimate things, start planning now, for whatever eventuality, start planning now and I started planning around these playoffs,” the coach explained.

“I said 'Why did other teams struggle when they come from the playoffs once they get to the PSL and why did other teams not win the playoffs? So, you start looking at what you can do and what you cannot do. I cannot reveal that now because it's our plan. It was my plan but it's our plan now, it's Baroka's plan. I think I have an idea of what to do."