Tornado FC are the deserved Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League 2015-16 champions after bulldozing everything in their path throughout the campaign like true champions are supposed to do.
They were competing with rookies Lion City for the provincial prize at the expense of many giants who were a disappointment in the 2015-16 campaign as the Mdantsane side proved to be hungrier that the other lot.
The league race, for the better part of the second stanza of the season was a tit-for-tat tussle between the eventual winners and the Port Elizabeth-based rookies City.
FC BUFFALO (log position - 6)
Among those was FC Buffalo who have somewhat become average of late and never showed smoke in the just-ended campaign.
Buffalo’s decline appears to have started last season when they were rocked by internal stability involving players and the coaching staff.
A season later, it would appear no lessons were learnt as the same problems popped up with more than half of the club’s squad failing to return from the festive break and they finished the season a disappointing sixth. A far cry from the 2013-14 when they finished second.
HIGHBURY - 12
But the biggest disappointment has got to be that of Highbury, a side that has consistently finished in the top five bracket for at least the past three seasons.
They now find themselves having finished at the wrong side of the table – relegation, at 12th place and having survived relegation literally on the matchday 30.
ZIMBANE KILLERS - 3
This is one club that needs to learn from the saying that “it is not how you start but how you finish that matters”. The Lusikisiki outfit started the season like a house on fire.
For the third of the season, they looked destined to challenge for the title having been consistently in the top two.
But somewhere somehow during the second leg of the campaign, things just went south and they finished 12 points behind champions at third place.
LION CITY - 2
Having been rookies in this league, the country’s third tier, City should be happy they finished in second place.
But it appears they are not as the club is now for sale after coming so close yet so far with a lot of spending in the process.
Surely another 30 matches to try again will be a costly exercise without guarantees, hence the sale of status.
EC BEES - 4
The league’s big-spenders wasted their time eyeing the Nedbank Cup, only to crash in the last 32.
By the time they turned their focus back to the league, they went on to lose matches they were not supposed to lose and therefore their title hopes evaporated into the air.
With former PSL players in the books, coming short of winning the title was pure failure as the fourth-place finish was not good enough.
FC ELLIOT - 5
For the better part of the season, the club were always up there in the top four and looking good to be the dark-horses ready to snatch the title away from Tornado or City.
But they, too, under the guidance of highly-rated coach Julius Dube stumbled with the finish line in their sights.
They too are selling their status and their club bus having finished fifth.
BLACKBURN ROVERS - 16
The less said about this one chaotic club, the better. They played five less matches than others in what seems to have been giving up before reaching the finish line.
They should be expelled from the league, as per Safa rules and very few football loving people in the province will miss them.
YOUNG IDEAS - 7
This is one club, if they keep the core of the team may contest for the title next season having emerged out of nowhere to finish in position seven.
They had some big wins against the socalled big guns.
FUTURE TIGERS - 9
Here too, just like in Ideas, there’s hope of being potential title contenders next season.
A ninth place finish for a rookie is not bad at all. They do, however, need to reinforce their squad and stop donating points.
KOKSTAD LIVERPOOL - 8
This is the club that wanted to spoil the party for the likes of eventual champions Tornado and City who they defeated.
It is in fact safe to say had Liverpool won against the so-called small teams, they would have finished better than eighth.
MATTA MILAN - 11
Their only glory is have put in the final nail in the Lion City coffin which they defeated on the season’s final match.
In fact, they can be partly credited for City’s not so rosy final moments.
MTHATHA CITY - 10
The Mthatha outfit were just there adding up numbers. They can do better if they up their game.
With Mthatha Bucks now in the NFD, that is if they survive, the footy-crazy fans of Mthatha need another team in the league.
MORNING STARS - 13
They came very close to being chopped but survived at the end. Now theirs is to go back to the drawing board and chart the way forward for next season.
SUBS - 14
Another club just adding numbers in the league. They brought about mediocre to the league but hopefully they will improve and finish better than 14th next season.
EMPERORS - 15
The 15th place finishers simply did not pitch. They have since been relegated which is probably what they deserved through their below-par performance.
Mdantsane side crowned champs of Motsepe league
They were competing with rookies Lion City for the provincial prize at the expense of many giants who were a disappointment in the 2015-16 campaign as the Mdantsane side proved to be hungrier that the other lot.
The league race, for the better part of the second stanza of the season was a tit-for-tat tussle between the eventual winners and the Port Elizabeth-based rookies City.
FC BUFFALO (log position - 6)
Among those was FC Buffalo who have somewhat become average of late and never showed smoke in the just-ended campaign.
Buffalo’s decline appears to have started last season when they were rocked by internal stability involving players and the coaching staff.
A season later, it would appear no lessons were learnt as the same problems popped up with more than half of the club’s squad failing to return from the festive break and they finished the season a disappointing sixth. A far cry from the 2013-14 when they finished second.
HIGHBURY - 12
But the biggest disappointment has got to be that of Highbury, a side that has consistently finished in the top five bracket for at least the past three seasons.
They now find themselves having finished at the wrong side of the table – relegation, at 12th place and having survived relegation literally on the matchday 30.
ZIMBANE KILLERS - 3
This is one club that needs to learn from the saying that “it is not how you start but how you finish that matters”. The Lusikisiki outfit started the season like a house on fire.
For the third of the season, they looked destined to challenge for the title having been consistently in the top two.
But somewhere somehow during the second leg of the campaign, things just went south and they finished 12 points behind champions at third place.
LION CITY - 2
Having been rookies in this league, the country’s third tier, City should be happy they finished in second place.
But it appears they are not as the club is now for sale after coming so close yet so far with a lot of spending in the process.
Surely another 30 matches to try again will be a costly exercise without guarantees, hence the sale of status.
EC BEES - 4
The league’s big-spenders wasted their time eyeing the Nedbank Cup, only to crash in the last 32.
By the time they turned their focus back to the league, they went on to lose matches they were not supposed to lose and therefore their title hopes evaporated into the air.
With former PSL players in the books, coming short of winning the title was pure failure as the fourth-place finish was not good enough.
FC ELLIOT - 5
For the better part of the season, the club were always up there in the top four and looking good to be the dark-horses ready to snatch the title away from Tornado or City.
But they, too, under the guidance of highly-rated coach Julius Dube stumbled with the finish line in their sights.
They too are selling their status and their club bus having finished fifth.
BLACKBURN ROVERS - 16
The less said about this one chaotic club, the better. They played five less matches than others in what seems to have been giving up before reaching the finish line.
They should be expelled from the league, as per Safa rules and very few football loving people in the province will miss them.
YOUNG IDEAS - 7
This is one club, if they keep the core of the team may contest for the title next season having emerged out of nowhere to finish in position seven.
They had some big wins against the socalled big guns.
FUTURE TIGERS - 9
Here too, just like in Ideas, there’s hope of being potential title contenders next season.
A ninth place finish for a rookie is not bad at all. They do, however, need to reinforce their squad and stop donating points.
KOKSTAD LIVERPOOL - 8
This is the club that wanted to spoil the party for the likes of eventual champions Tornado and City who they defeated.
It is in fact safe to say had Liverpool won against the so-called small teams, they would have finished better than eighth.
MATTA MILAN - 11
Their only glory is have put in the final nail in the Lion City coffin which they defeated on the season’s final match.
In fact, they can be partly credited for City’s not so rosy final moments.
MTHATHA CITY - 10
The Mthatha outfit were just there adding up numbers. They can do better if they up their game.
With Mthatha Bucks now in the NFD, that is if they survive, the footy-crazy fans of Mthatha need another team in the league.
MORNING STARS - 13
They came very close to being chopped but survived at the end. Now theirs is to go back to the drawing board and chart the way forward for next season.
SUBS - 14
Another club just adding numbers in the league. They brought about mediocre to the league but hopefully they will improve and finish better than 14th next season.
EMPERORS - 15
The 15th place finishers simply did not pitch. They have since been relegated which is probably what they deserved through their below-par performance.
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