An interview with Gordon Igesund, is conducted every week on topics ranging from the previous weeks game, to soccer in general. If you wish to pose a question to the coach, please send an email to rangers-coach@mailbox.co.za.

D.N : The last couple of games have seen some spirited performances from the guys, but the one thing that seems to be lacking is the final finishing touch.
GORDON IGESUND : Yes, but that is to be expected because remember the squad this season is almost a completely new one and the guys still have get that sense of finding each other. We were hampered by the late arrival of our foreign contigent due to their work permit problems. But everything is going according to plan, the guys are moulding into a team much better but the final finishing touches are coming right slowly.

D.N : You must have been pleased with the performances of Regan Stuart following the Classic game ?
GORDON IGESUND : Yes, very, he was understandably nervous in the beginning being the first game that he has started for Rangers this season but he adapted well and did everything I could have asked for him running around the park in attack and defensive. This is a good sign for the future, and he can only improve from here.

D.N : Shakes Kungwane however seems to have fallen out of the team after 5 consecutive starts for Rangers ?
GORDON IGESUND : Yes, he was looking extremely jaded in those games and I believe it was simply a case of him trying to hard. Remember, he came to us massively overweight and he underwent an intensive weight loss program to get back to playing weight. Coming down from 96kg to 80kg is a huge improvement, but you have to realise that you cannot lose weight and train for fitness at the same time. Losing weight as quickly as Shakes was doing basically means overcoming a pain barrier because he trained really hard in a short space of time. It was too much of him asking of himself to go out there and perform every week - because, in losing that weight, he was tiring by overtraining and looking back on his last couple of performances, he just seemed to run out of steam in the match.

D.N : The critics will probably deliver a star-studded report on Rangers performance after todays game - a calculated 1st half and a devastating 2nd half blitz ...
GORDON IGESUND : Yes, that will be good for a change. The past couple of weeks all sorts of reports have been coming up. I will say it again, its ludicrous to compare us to the other big clubs in South Africa, simply because on terms you just cannot, it is an uneven scale. We donot compete on the same resource levels as other clubs do. It is ironical sometimes, that even when we're lying 3rd in the League we're regarded as being "in a slump" .Instead of always trying to shoot us down, view everything in context and then comment.

D.N : Updating the Rangers statistics the other day I noticed that your terms at certain clubs co-incided with the periods that some current players spent at those clubs and now they're at Rangers ? Did you go out looking for them?
GORDON IGESUND : I would say that, yes. One also has to bear in mind that I have to go out and look for players that fall into the budget allocated to me for the season. But its a common trait that some players prefer certain coaches because they perform well under them and their best playing qualities are brought out. Obviously, if I believe that a certain player can do the job for me then I will go out looking for him and bring him to the club. That some players have expressed a desire to play under me I think is flattering, but in the end it boils down to mutual respect and trust.

D.N : The recent turn of events on the Bafana-Bafana performances and the subsequent falling out of favour of national coach Trott Moloto seems to have a ripple effect on everyone - moreso, you Gordon, considering the past turn of events. Does it affect you ?
GORDON IGESUND : In a way it does, but what annoys me that reporters are always phoning me up asking about the national side fortunes and Trott Moloto. Look, everyone knows what happened during that episode and I donot like to be drawn into the politics of the whole saga.

D.N : The recently formed Players Union seems to be finally getting off the ground and getting some pretty good clout, having successfully resolved the John Moeti case with Orlando Pirates. How much do you agree with the formation of such a body seeing that you having been a former player, and now a professional coach having seen both sides of the divide ?
GORDON IGESUND : I think its a good thing for the players as they will have a body that will stand up for their rights if they are infringed. However, the Union will have to have clear ethics as to the way they operate and pursue matters. Being a Professional Football League, the onus is on entertainment to the paying public and matters should not be disrupted for the want of nothing better to do. By saying that, I mean, that the Union should only step in when a player goes to them with a problem if he believes his rights are being infringed. The Union, should not try to step into matters when there is no complaint and seek solutions where there is none.

D.N : Looking ahead to the game Rothmans Cup Quarterfinal fixture against Classic this Saturday, do you think they're going to be even more wary against us at Makhulong ?
GORDON IGESUND : I think after the PSL fixture in which they got a big shock they will be definately more wary, and may have one or two surprise players whom we have'nt seen before waiting because they were also hit with injuries for that game. I expect them to come out full of fire as they have taken the previous loss as a dent against their pride and are sure to come out fighting.

D.N : You must be a particularly happy coach, because for once you have a full strength side to choose from for the first time this season ?
GORDON IGESUND :Yes, I am quite happy that I have all my players to choose from. Solomuzi Ndimande is back from suspension and Liswa Nduti has recovered from the knock that he took against Classic in the PSL fixture.

D.N : In fact, now you will have a particular problem with the foreigner rule as only 3 may be on the field at any one time ?
GORDON IGESUND : Yes, in a way I do, but it does not always boil down to that as the squad gets selected solely on merit. With the way that Kerryn Jordan and Gilbert Mushanghazike have been playing in the last couple of games its going to be difficult for him to force his way back into the squad. The same applies to Liswa Nduti, as Antonio Trigo has been a revelation every time he has taken to the field.

D.N : While on the subject of players - Bruce Ramokadi seems to have been an inspired selection in the midfield ?
GORDON IGESUND : He has indeed, sometimes it takes decisions like these that turn a players career around and Bruce has been absolutely superb and revels in the midfield where he gets stuck into the action as well gets more of the ball than he would have had as striker. Its only a matter of time, if he keeps up his current form, that he will get a national call up.

D.N : There has been plenty of critiscism about the Makhulong Stadium from all the sides that have visited there. Your views on this ?
GORDON IGESUND : Well, the pitch is a bit bumpy and not conducive to ground passes as it bobbles up at the last moment - and the other thing that probably concerns me the most is the proximity of the crowd to the pitch as they sit only 3m away from the touch line. With this in mind it is essential that there are neutral match officials as in an intimidating atmosphere as the Makhulong Stadium can create on a full match day it is imperative that match officials are totally impartial.