Finally, the Eastern Cape will have a team in the National First Division next season after Mthatha Bucks earned promotion yesterday when they finished top of Group B in the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs.Bucks who won two out of three matches and finished with six points will now play in the final tomorrow afternoon with Mbombela United of Mpumalanga who finished top of Group A.
At stake in the final is a tidy R1-million winners prize and R500000 for runners-up.
But all eyes were on the big prize of a place in the NFD and the Mthatha side did just that by beating North West Shining Stars 2-1 yesterday at the Galeshiwe Stadium.
When the referee called time, with the other match of Group B between hosts Hungry Lions and Limpopo representatives Magesi FC having ended in a 3-3 stalemate, the Bucks players and supporters wept with joy on the back of the news that the club will now be the only Eastern Cape side playing in the NFD.
Bucks deserved their promotion after dominating the ABC Motsepe League in the 2014-15 season which earned them a right to compete in the playoffs.
Nkani Zwane was the hero of the day during yesterday’s match netting the winning goal, one of the most important goals for the Mthatha side in five years since campaigning in the third division.
Bucks coach, Julius Dube with tears of excitement pouring down his face praised his charges for a positive attitude and resilience saying “many had written us off after we lost our first match but my boys did not lose hope.
“They believed in themselves and kept fighting and were deservedly rewarded for their hard work, I am happy for them.”
With NFD 2015-16 season starting next month, Dube said Bucks were ready for the task ahead. Good for Bucks, Dube is no stranger to the NFD after coaching at least three clubs at that level.
In the match, Bucks opened the scoring when Xolisa Sifunda headed home 20 minutes in the first half.
Shining Stars got back on equal terms via a penalty on the one-hour mark and captain Tshepang Mabatle made no mistake with the spotkick. With five minutes to go Zwane enetred the picture and got the winner.
Bucks heroes win day
At stake in the final is a tidy R1-million winners prize and R500000 for runners-up.
But all eyes were on the big prize of a place in the NFD and the Mthatha side did just that by beating North West Shining Stars 2-1 yesterday at the Galeshiwe Stadium.
When the referee called time, with the other match of Group B between hosts Hungry Lions and Limpopo representatives Magesi FC having ended in a 3-3 stalemate, the Bucks players and supporters wept with joy on the back of the news that the club will now be the only Eastern Cape side playing in the NFD.
Bucks deserved their promotion after dominating the ABC Motsepe League in the 2014-15 season which earned them a right to compete in the playoffs.
Nkani Zwane was the hero of the day during yesterday’s match netting the winning goal, one of the most important goals for the Mthatha side in five years since campaigning in the third division.
Bucks coach, Julius Dube with tears of excitement pouring down his face praised his charges for a positive attitude and resilience saying “many had written us off after we lost our first match but my boys did not lose hope.
“They believed in themselves and kept fighting and were deservedly rewarded for their hard work, I am happy for them.”
With NFD 2015-16 season starting next month, Dube said Bucks were ready for the task ahead. Good for Bucks, Dube is no stranger to the NFD after coaching at least three clubs at that level.
In the match, Bucks opened the scoring when Xolisa Sifunda headed home 20 minutes in the first half.
Shining Stars got back on equal terms via a penalty on the one-hour mark and captain Tshepang Mabatle made no mistake with the spotkick. With five minutes to go Zwane enetred the picture and got the winner.
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