Swallows sign striker Ritson

Struggling Moroka Swallows on Tuesday signed striker Bradley Ritson from AmaZulu in an attempt to solve their goal-scoring problem.

- Great cash prizes in the score-prediction game

Ritson is expected to make his Birds debut in a tough Absa Premiership clash against defending champions SuperSport United at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday night.

"Ritson will be a major asset. He has a proven track record and he will be a big help in solving our goal drought. We are busy (Tuesday) finalising the paperwork and hopefully he will be available for Saturday," said Birds' assistant coach Zeca Marques.

The Birds are bottom of the Premiership without a win and a draw from their eight matches.

So serious is the problem that coach Rainer Zobel could finally face the axe if the Birds suffer another defeat against the champions.

Ritson, at 28, is a late bloomer.

The Durban-born striker was discovered by former AmaZulu coach Clive Barker and made his PSL debut two seasons back.

"We need somebody to stick the ball in the back of the net and hopefully Ritson is the answer. When a side is not scoring it follows that defenders make mistakes and concede goals that is the way it goes," said Marques.

"The bottom line is we need to pull up our socks and get our season back on track."

With only five goals from eight matches, Zobel is praying Ritson will hit the ground running against United.

The former Bayern Munich player is not solely to blame for this slump.

Marques has told his players they have to accept some of the responsibility.

"We had a 10-day break due to the recent Fifa international date and that has done the players and training staff the world of good," he said.

"We are refreshed. We had a chance to sit down and work out where we went wrong.

"We have to improve and try and put everything right. One point from eight games is simply not good enough we all know that.

"There is a new energy and enthusiasm at training. We need to take that onto the field against SuperSport."

Marques said part of the problem was the failure of the Birds' two new midfielder signings Georgian-born Giorgi Nergadze and Zimbabwean international Oscar Machapa to settle in.

"We were banking on both Machapa and Nergadze to fire up our midfield, but they have battled to settle in quickly. However, Machapa has come back from playing for Zimbabwe revitalised this week. There is a new spring in his step."

The Birds other problem was injures to key players.

"SuperSport have also had their troubles also this season and that makes this game a really tough one for both sides, but we are fighting for our lives and need to rise to the occasion."