Saint George searches for answers

Despite winning three Premier League titles and sporting a head coach from Portugal who oversees six foreign players and the best local talent money can buy, Saint George sits in fourth place, its lowest spot in 14 seasons.
They were shocked by Hawassa 4-1 to end the first half of the season and currently are six points behind league leading Dedebt. Add to that Wednesday’s lackluster goalless performance against humble Ugandan visitors KCCA many fans are wondering what the point of spending all that money was.
With the squad and coach they have it seemed likely they would win their fourth title, however they are in danger of slipping completely out of contention.  Just two days ago the players took home four million birr in incentive pay before their game against the small team from Uganda.
The demolition at the hands of Hawassa is unusual and seems more than just a fluke. Instead it seems like the decline of a team that has only five wins, eight draws and two defeats. Hawassa not only won the day but in style after a full time domination accompanied with four marvelous goals.
Some suggest the problem is the training method used by head coach Pinto, while quite a lot others are fingering senior players for lack of discipline, motivation and a winning spirit. Still others blame the board for favoritism and special babysitting treatment. “It is up to the attitude of some big name players towards the squad and the coach that we lost in humiliation. I think we have no hope in the Champions League return leg and have already lost the chance to retain the title,” remarked one supporter who had had a rough time traveling to watch the Hawassa match. “It is better to kick-off a better and long term plan for the club’s future,” he added.