Mthatha Bucks yesterday unceremoniously blew the race for NFD survival wide open after they played out to a 2-all draw against Thanda Royal Zulu.
According to Bucks COO Lunga Tukute, they were 2-0 up at the interval but decided to park the bus after the break which led to the opposition launching a vicious onslaught that saw the match ending a 2-2 stalemate.
Now the Eastern Cape outfit – the province’s only club in the second tier, currently lying 13th with 27 points, four ahead of second-from-bottom Moroka Swallows – have a mammoth task to beat Highland Park at all cost on Sunday at the Mthatha Stadium if they are to avoid the chop.
A disappointed Tukute reacted to the draw: “Football is a very funny game, we were 2-0 up at halftime and we thought we were home and dry but now all that has changed. We now need to go all out in what will be our final game at home for the season and get the maximum points to be safe.”
Tukute blamed the dramatic turn of events that ensued late in the game on the deep defending. Bucks were positive that they can still duck the dreaded relegation axe successfully, he said, even though Highlands Park will be equally desperate as they are fighting for a promotion playoffs spot.
“We are in it for our own survival and we often rise up to the occasion when facing the title contenders like we did recently when we beat Milano United,” an optimistic Tukute opined.
Petrus Ngebo netted twice yesterday, taking his tally to four in three matches, just a month after his signing.
Ngebo will certainly need to keep his fine form for the remaining all important final matches, with the Dube Birds who are 15th and even rock bottom African Warriors also standing a chance to survive following yesterday’s results.
Thanda themselves are still in trouble in 14th place and a point behind Bucks and they are away to Swallows on Sunday in another six-pointer.
Warriors’ fate may be decided this afternoon if they lose to log-leaders Baroka FC at Charles Mopedi at 3pm.
A loss for Warriors will be a fatal one as it will mean there will be no Free State club in the NFD next season unless their representative at the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs reaches the final.
Bucks pay dearly for their defensive ploy
According to Bucks COO Lunga Tukute, they were 2-0 up at the interval but decided to park the bus after the break which led to the opposition launching a vicious onslaught that saw the match ending a 2-2 stalemate.
Now the Eastern Cape outfit – the province’s only club in the second tier, currently lying 13th with 27 points, four ahead of second-from-bottom Moroka Swallows – have a mammoth task to beat Highland Park at all cost on Sunday at the Mthatha Stadium if they are to avoid the chop.
A disappointed Tukute reacted to the draw: “Football is a very funny game, we were 2-0 up at halftime and we thought we were home and dry but now all that has changed. We now need to go all out in what will be our final game at home for the season and get the maximum points to be safe.”
Tukute blamed the dramatic turn of events that ensued late in the game on the deep defending. Bucks were positive that they can still duck the dreaded relegation axe successfully, he said, even though Highlands Park will be equally desperate as they are fighting for a promotion playoffs spot.
“We are in it for our own survival and we often rise up to the occasion when facing the title contenders like we did recently when we beat Milano United,” an optimistic Tukute opined.
Petrus Ngebo netted twice yesterday, taking his tally to four in three matches, just a month after his signing.
Ngebo will certainly need to keep his fine form for the remaining all important final matches, with the Dube Birds who are 15th and even rock bottom African Warriors also standing a chance to survive following yesterday’s results.
Thanda themselves are still in trouble in 14th place and a point behind Bucks and they are away to Swallows on Sunday in another six-pointer.
Warriors’ fate may be decided this afternoon if they lose to log-leaders Baroka FC at Charles Mopedi at 3pm.
A loss for Warriors will be a fatal one as it will mean there will be no Free State club in the NFD next season unless their representative at the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs reaches the final.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos