Cape Town - Veteran defender Rooi Mahamutsa credits Free state Stars coach Luc Eymael for the team still being in the race for a top-four finish this season.
Despite losing 1-0 to Chippa United at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday, the 36-year-old takes the view that Ea Lla Koto's improvement in fortunes is down to their Belgian coach.
"Our team has not changed. It's basically the same players who are there‚ except maybe for one or two," Mahamutsa told reporters.
"Obviously‚ look he (Eymael) has got his own tactics. Mostly though it's hard work. That's all he's doing.
"If you don't put everything that you have you won't win games. But if you put everything‚ and focus on what you are doing‚ you will win more and achieve what we are achieving."
The former Orlando Pirates centre-back added he was still learning from Eymael, saying: "If you are a player‚ or a teacher or a principal‚ or whatever‚ you still want to study further.
"You want to go further than your studies. The way he is doing things we don't say that because we have been long in this game we won't listen to him.
"It's like‚ I'm a student‚ he's the teacher. I have to listen to him. I think that's the reason why we are in the position we are in at the moment. Because if you listen to instructions you achieve more.
"Last season we fought relegation and now we are in position four. But we really need to dig deep so that we can finish maybe number two."