The signing of former Bafana Bafana forward Petrus Ngebo by Mthatha Bucks just more than 20 days ago appeared absurd to some given that the striker was not playing any competitive football at the time.
But the decision appears to have been a perfect one as the veteran striker has since emerged as the saviour of the club with the relegation axe hanging over them.
Ngebo, the club's lone scorer in their previous two outings where they bagged four points has steered Bucks to safety at position 12, at least for now.
Ngebo scored a late equaliser when Bucks played to a one-all stalemate with FC Cape Town some two weeks ago before netting the solitary goal in the 1-0 win that sunk Cape Town All Stars last weekend.
Had his two goals not come, Bucks would be languishing at second from bottom in the NFD standings.
The Bloemfontein Celtic erstwhile marksman is expected to step up again when Bucks visit fellow NFD relegation candidates Thanda Royal Zulu on Sunday.
Amathol’amnyama head coach Velile Dyaloyi said Ngebo’s signing was a very calculated move.
Emphasising that praising individual players was not his style as soccer was team sport, “Veza” said Ngebo’s “contribution to the team has been a significant one”.
Dyaloyi went on: “Remember, not long ago I said he needed a bit of time to find his balance because he had not been playing but I now think he has fitted perfectly into the team.
“We signed him and others like David Radebe because of demand. We were not scoring and we needed experienced strikers who also play a role of motivating the young ones,” he added.
“In Ngebo’s case, he is a very quiet person but his contribution has been through good performance which inspires others.”
As to whether or not Ngebo will be leading the Bucks onslaught in the remaining three matches, the coach diplomatically said he was playing players according to how they fitted their approach to a particular match.
About the upcoming relegation dogfight with Thanda Royal Zulu, Dyaloyi was expecting his charges to fight as though it was a cup final.
“A win in that game can take us a long way,” he said.
Indeed Bucks will need at least six points in the final three matches of the season if they are to avoid the chop on their own without calling for favours on others.
But it will be easy against Thanda who are still bruising from a 2-1 loss to title contenders Baroka FC.
The relegation battle is currently such a close call that the gap between 10th place and the basement is just eight points with nine points still to play for.
As such, any of the seven clubs lying within that range, one of which is Bucks, can still be relegated.
But Dyaloyi put his head on the block, reiterating that “Mthatha Bucks will not get relegated”.
New kid on the block can yet save the day for Bucks
But the decision appears to have been a perfect one as the veteran striker has since emerged as the saviour of the club with the relegation axe hanging over them.
Ngebo, the club's lone scorer in their previous two outings where they bagged four points has steered Bucks to safety at position 12, at least for now.
Ngebo scored a late equaliser when Bucks played to a one-all stalemate with FC Cape Town some two weeks ago before netting the solitary goal in the 1-0 win that sunk Cape Town All Stars last weekend.
Had his two goals not come, Bucks would be languishing at second from bottom in the NFD standings.
The Bloemfontein Celtic erstwhile marksman is expected to step up again when Bucks visit fellow NFD relegation candidates Thanda Royal Zulu on Sunday.
Amathol’amnyama head coach Velile Dyaloyi said Ngebo’s signing was a very calculated move.
Emphasising that praising individual players was not his style as soccer was team sport, “Veza” said Ngebo’s “contribution to the team has been a significant one”.
Dyaloyi went on: “Remember, not long ago I said he needed a bit of time to find his balance because he had not been playing but I now think he has fitted perfectly into the team.
“We signed him and others like David Radebe because of demand. We were not scoring and we needed experienced strikers who also play a role of motivating the young ones,” he added.
“In Ngebo’s case, he is a very quiet person but his contribution has been through good performance which inspires others.”
As to whether or not Ngebo will be leading the Bucks onslaught in the remaining three matches, the coach diplomatically said he was playing players according to how they fitted their approach to a particular match.
About the upcoming relegation dogfight with Thanda Royal Zulu, Dyaloyi was expecting his charges to fight as though it was a cup final.
“A win in that game can take us a long way,” he said.
Indeed Bucks will need at least six points in the final three matches of the season if they are to avoid the chop on their own without calling for favours on others.
But it will be easy against Thanda who are still bruising from a 2-1 loss to title contenders Baroka FC.
The relegation battle is currently such a close call that the gap between 10th place and the basement is just eight points with nine points still to play for.
As such, any of the seven clubs lying within that range, one of which is Bucks, can still be relegated.
But Dyaloyi put his head on the block, reiterating that “Mthatha Bucks will not get relegated”.
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