Future Tigers are determined to end their winless record against ABC Motsepe League defending champions Tornado when the two sides meet in a Buffalo City derby at the North End Stadium today at 3pm.
Second on the log standings with 20 points after nine outings with just a single draw, Tigers have never defeated Tornado since their rise to the second division last season.
Tornado, in two league encounters against Tigers last season, scored a staggering 15 goals against two.
They first beat Tigers 5-2 before dismantling them 10-0 in the second leg.
As if those two losses were not enough, Tigers again went down 2-1 to the same Tornado in the Nedbank Cup qualifiers this season.
But Tigers boss Vukile Mlanjana has vowed that it stops today.
“History indeed favours them but we are a completely different animal this season and the stats speak volumes,” said Mlanjana.
“That hoodoo comes to an end today as we are gunning for nothing less than three points.”
And the difference between the two sides on the standings at the moment is just three points as Tornado are on 17. Should Tigers lose, the two will be level on 20 points but Mlanjana is adamant that his side will emerge tops.
“We have been enjoying our position as title contenders and we are not willing to surrender that to anyone, including Tornado whom we have a score to settle with,” a confident Mlanjana said.
But Tornado head coach Thobela Bikwani hit back saying history will repeat itself.
According to Bikwani, Tigers are day dreaming if they think they can beat Tornado.
“It is going to be a tough match because Tigers have transformed for the better this season but there is going to be one winner which without a doubt is Tornado,” said Bikwani.
“Stats favour us and because of that nothing will stop us because we are on the rise and we have scored a lot of goals in our previous three matches that we all won and the spirit is high in the camp.”
Tornado may face problems in the left-back position where their forever reliable Nhlakanipho Myeza is off for national duty with the U20 SA team, who take on Kenya in an international friendly this afternoon in Gauteng.
But Bikwani believes whoever comes in will rise to the occasion.
“We have no problems because I have confidence on all my players.”
Tornado, currently seventh on the standings, have a chance to replace Tigers in second place should they win today, albeit depending on other results.
Other Motsepe League fixtures this weekend:
Today 3pm: Mdantsane Mighty Bucks v City Lads FC (Jan Smuts Stadium), Lion City FC v Mthatha City (NU2 Stadium, Motherwell), Callies FC v Young Ideas FC (Gelvandale Stadium, PE), Matatiele Professionals v FC Buffalo (Thandanani Stadium, Matatiele), Walter Sisulu University v Highbury FC (WSU, Ibika Campus, Butterworth) and EC Bees FC v Morning Stars (Bisho Stadium). — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Tigers aim to sink teeth into Tornado
Second on the log standings with 20 points after nine outings with just a single draw, Tigers have never defeated Tornado since their rise to the second division last season.
Tornado, in two league encounters against Tigers last season, scored a staggering 15 goals against two.
They first beat Tigers 5-2 before dismantling them 10-0 in the second leg.
As if those two losses were not enough, Tigers again went down 2-1 to the same Tornado in the Nedbank Cup qualifiers this season.
But Tigers boss Vukile Mlanjana has vowed that it stops today.
“History indeed favours them but we are a completely different animal this season and the stats speak volumes,” said Mlanjana.
“That hoodoo comes to an end today as we are gunning for nothing less than three points.”
And the difference between the two sides on the standings at the moment is just three points as Tornado are on 17. Should Tigers lose, the two will be level on 20 points but Mlanjana is adamant that his side will emerge tops.
“We have been enjoying our position as title contenders and we are not willing to surrender that to anyone, including Tornado whom we have a score to settle with,” a confident Mlanjana said.
But Tornado head coach Thobela Bikwani hit back saying history will repeat itself.
According to Bikwani, Tigers are day dreaming if they think they can beat Tornado.
“It is going to be a tough match because Tigers have transformed for the better this season but there is going to be one winner which without a doubt is Tornado,” said Bikwani.
“Stats favour us and because of that nothing will stop us because we are on the rise and we have scored a lot of goals in our previous three matches that we all won and the spirit is high in the camp.”
Tornado may face problems in the left-back position where their forever reliable Nhlakanipho Myeza is off for national duty with the U20 SA team, who take on Kenya in an international friendly this afternoon in Gauteng.
But Bikwani believes whoever comes in will rise to the occasion.
“We have no problems because I have confidence on all my players.”
Tornado, currently seventh on the standings, have a chance to replace Tigers in second place should they win today, albeit depending on other results.
Other Motsepe League fixtures this weekend:
Today 3pm: Mdantsane Mighty Bucks v City Lads FC (Jan Smuts Stadium), Lion City FC v Mthatha City (NU2 Stadium, Motherwell), Callies FC v Young Ideas FC (Gelvandale Stadium, PE), Matatiele Professionals v FC Buffalo (Thandanani Stadium, Matatiele), Walter Sisulu University v Highbury FC (WSU, Ibika Campus, Butterworth) and EC Bees FC v Morning Stars (Bisho Stadium). — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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