SuperSport United’s experienced left-back, Lyle Lakay, is rallying the troops, urging the club’s young players to stay the course amid their current slumps.

After suffering three consecutive defeats, and failing to score in each, Lakay has emerged as a voice of motivation, emphasizing the need for unity, hard work, and belief.

“We’ve got a relatively young squad,” Lakay reflected. “We as senior players need to encourage and motivate the younger guys. Most of us, we’ve been in situations like this before. Also, last year we went three or four games without a win. It’s nothing new. Like they say, you’re down there already; the only way is up.”

Lakay’s rallying cry comes as SuperSport sits precariously in 13th place on the Betway Premiership table, with five points from four games. In recent weeks, their inability to find the back of the net has become a troubling theme. They’ve lost 1-0 to Cape Town City, 4-0 to Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout Cup, and 2-0 to Orlando Pirates, who also eliminated them from the MTN8 earlier this season.

Lakay’s message is simple but powerful in the face of adversity: hard work will be their salvation.

“The only way for us to pick ourselves up is to work harder, try and break the door down. We haven’t scored in three games now. We just have to continue working hard until we get there,” Lakay said.

But beyond the physical demands, Lakay is placing an emphasis on leading by example. In a team with youthful exuberance, the seasoned players are tasked with setting the standard on and off the pitch.

“We’re encouraging them, but at the same time, we should show them instead of telling them,” He explained. “We’re trying to stay positive, being motivated, and rubbing off on them without having to say much. We spoke to them in the changing room. The coach spoke to all of us, and he’s committed. We also have to be committed. We have to stick as one during this time. Everybody has to pull together, pull the same way, and eventually, things will turn around.”

SuperSport’s struggles in front of goal are a growing concern. Though their defense has faltered on occasion, Lakay believes their attacking frustrations stem from wasted opportunities rather than a lack of creativity.

“We haven’t scored in the last three or four games. Yes, against the Pirates, we conceded early—that was a sucker punch. But if you look at the Chiefs game, we had chances before Chiefs even got their first shot on goal. I think our problem is we don’t take our chances; at the end of the day, we get punished,” Lakay observed.

As the team prepares for a rematch against Chiefs this Saturday at Peter Mokaba Stadium, the stakes are higher than ever. SuperSport has a mixed record against the Soweto giants in the league, with two wins and two losses in their last four encounters. However, with just one victory in the league this season—a narrow 1-0 triumph over struggling TS Galaxy—they are in desperate need of both goals and points.

This fixture against Chiefs presents a crucial test. Has SuperSport done its homework? Can they rediscover the firepower they so sorely need? Lakay and his teammates know that another defeat could deepen their crisis, but they also know that a win could serve as the spark to reignite their season.

For Lakay, the answer lies not just in tactics but in collective belief: “We have to stay together, stay committed, and keep pushing. Eventually, things will turn around.”