ABC Motesepe League Eastern Cape log-leaders Mthatha Bucks are out to make history today when they take on their nemesis FC Buffalo at the Jan Smuts Stadium at 6pm.
Bucks have never beaten Buffalo at their homeground but are confident that today is the day to break that hoodoo.
Buffalo, on the flipside, are determined to bring to a halt Bucks’ undefeated streak and to reaffirm their dominance over the Mthatha outfit in previous encounters.
Buffalo coach William Mugeyi has issued a stern warming to Bucks saying they will hit a brick wall come 6pm.
A chilled Mugeyi said games such as these are a motivation on their own for his charges, adding that Bucks would feel the heat right from the kick-off.
However, Bucks team manager Doctor Tukute was confident that they would win the game by 2-1.
“It is not going to be an easy game, that I can tell you,” said Tukute.
“We know Buffalo are seasoned title contenders almost every season and they have not been doing well this ongoing campaign and they will want to use this game to bounce back.
“We have to rewrite history this time around and break that hoodoo of struggling when visiting Buffalo.”
Mugeyi sent a strong message to his opponents: go ask Tornado what Buffalo does to high-flying teams.
“We bring them down to earth like we did against Tornado two weeks ago and we will do the same to Bucks,” charged the former Zimbabwean international.
Both clubs have thoroughly studied each other’s style of play, with Bucks coach Julius Dube was an interested onlooker during the Buffalo and Tornado face-off in East London.
Mugeyi did the same last weekend when he travelled to Mthatha to observe Bucks during their derby clash with Mthatha City.
“It was the first time I watched them play but now I know where we can win the game,” said Mugeyi.
“We will neutralise them in the midfield which I believe is where the match will be won or lost.”
Buffalo are very solid at the centre of the park but it remains to be seen how they will use this to their advantage against a highly organised Bucks from goalkeeper to their striker.
Tukute said they would unleash their attacking firepower from the onset as they will settle for nothing less than three points.
According to Mugeyi, having rested last weekend will give them the added advantage because players who were injured have recovered and the team had more than enough time to strategise.
Mugeyi is counting on his three trusted soldiers in the form of attacking midfielders Tebogo Kukama and Givemore Manuella, as well as experienced central defender Myron Hoffman to inspire the team to victory.
He is hoping that Kukama’s energy and mobility will complement sharp football brains and ball playing prowess possessed by Manuaella to create goals.
Stakes high in clash of the titans
Bucks have never beaten Buffalo at their homeground but are confident that today is the day to break that hoodoo.
Buffalo, on the flipside, are determined to bring to a halt Bucks’ undefeated streak and to reaffirm their dominance over the Mthatha outfit in previous encounters.
Buffalo coach William Mugeyi has issued a stern warming to Bucks saying they will hit a brick wall come 6pm.
A chilled Mugeyi said games such as these are a motivation on their own for his charges, adding that Bucks would feel the heat right from the kick-off.
However, Bucks team manager Doctor Tukute was confident that they would win the game by 2-1.
“It is not going to be an easy game, that I can tell you,” said Tukute.
“We know Buffalo are seasoned title contenders almost every season and they have not been doing well this ongoing campaign and they will want to use this game to bounce back.
“We have to rewrite history this time around and break that hoodoo of struggling when visiting Buffalo.”
Mugeyi sent a strong message to his opponents: go ask Tornado what Buffalo does to high-flying teams.
“We bring them down to earth like we did against Tornado two weeks ago and we will do the same to Bucks,” charged the former Zimbabwean international.
Both clubs have thoroughly studied each other’s style of play, with Bucks coach Julius Dube was an interested onlooker during the Buffalo and Tornado face-off in East London.
Mugeyi did the same last weekend when he travelled to Mthatha to observe Bucks during their derby clash with Mthatha City.
“It was the first time I watched them play but now I know where we can win the game,” said Mugeyi.
“We will neutralise them in the midfield which I believe is where the match will be won or lost.”
Buffalo are very solid at the centre of the park but it remains to be seen how they will use this to their advantage against a highly organised Bucks from goalkeeper to their striker.
Tukute said they would unleash their attacking firepower from the onset as they will settle for nothing less than three points.
According to Mugeyi, having rested last weekend will give them the added advantage because players who were injured have recovered and the team had more than enough time to strategise.
Mugeyi is counting on his three trusted soldiers in the form of attacking midfielders Tebogo Kukama and Givemore Manuella, as well as experienced central defender Myron Hoffman to inspire the team to victory.
He is hoping that Kukama’s energy and mobility will complement sharp football brains and ball playing prowess possessed by Manuaella to create goals.
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