EXCLUSIVE: Travis Graham On How The Team Is Acclimatizing Under Maduka

Maritzburg United midfielder Travis Graham says there are changes that their new coach John Maduka has instilled at the club and as players they’re still adapting to his style of play. Maduka was announced as Team of Choice’s new mentor after Ernst Middendorp was sacked just after the completion of the previous season.

“It’s been good for the club to get a new coach, obviously there’s changes happening around the club. So us as players we’re still getting to know him but so far so good, we’re starting to adapt slowly to his philosophy, once we get to know it, we’ll play some good football come this season. And with the KZN Premier’s Cup we can obviously see how we stand with the other guys and see how we are as a team with the new coach,” Graham told Diski365 at the KZN Premier’s Cup Launch on Tuesday in Durban.

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With Maduka having led Royal AM to a top-four finish last season, he’s perhaps looking to achieve something better again with the Pietermaritzburg-based club next season. Graham says the coach has emphasized that they must try win each and every game they play with no specific targets put on the table.

“We’re still yet to speak about targets but as things stand when the coach addresses us as players, he wants us to focus on every game, that’s basically to win each and every game because we are a good team, we have good players, we have good facilities and we have to use it to our advantage. So when it comes to next season it’s just to win each and every game,” he added.

WHY MADUKA LEFT ROYAL AM?

As to why Maduka left. His decision to leave the wealthy club came as a shock to many considering the club’s excellent run last season and Confederation Cup ticket. However, he explained that it was a personal decision and had nothing to do with football. “The decision had nothing to do with football. It was a personal one, which I had discussed with my family. It was well thought out. I had to think about myself and do what is best for me,” Maduka told the media during his unveiling at the Team of Choice.

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Furthermore, rumours suggested that Maduka was unhappy with the treatment he was getting from the club’s management. And he didn’t feel secure after the sacking of some members of his technical team in January.