Mashale Rantabane sees Mthatha Bucks’ league encounter against Witbank Spurs as the deciding game which could also revive their fighting spirits to perform better in their remaining games to avoid relegation to ABC Motsepe League. Bucks have been stationed at the basement of the National First Division table for weeks with 20 points.
But Amathol’amnyama still have 18 points to fight for before the season draws to a close, and if they could win all of them they could close at 38 points and stave off the worst-case scenario.
Bucks face seventh placed Spurs, who have 33 points, at Puma Rugby Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga on Saturday.
The matured centre-back doesn’t think it’s all doom and gloom for the Mthatha-based outfit.
“This is one game we need to win in order to revive our hope and our careers. So we have to win this game by all means possible.
“And the entire squad just wants to win this game because it’s the most crucial game and a win will give us the hope that we are still in the league next season.
“And we know Spurs won’t face us lying down. They will bring everything they have in order to get the three points, especially since they have homeground advantage.”
Rantabane said hope was keeping their dream of remaining in the league alive even though things might seem to be heading downhill for the only Eastern Cape NFD outfit.
“We are now fighting for our lives, and our supporters must expect everyone to give nothing short of a 100% on the pitch.
“And we’ll show them by winning every game we have left.”
The experienced defender didn’t want to agree with the views of the club’s followers who went to voice their opinions on the club’s social media pages – slamming the chopping and changing of coaches like Velile Dyaloyi and Ian Palmer.
“To be honest it’s a matter of luck because when you change tactically you want to bring in new energy to a team.
“So maybe we took longer to understand the new coach’s style and approach to games.
“And I strongly believe that new players or coaches bring in competitiveness in any club which is healthy for a team because players have to fight for their position and no one can relax if they want to play.
“It’s just a matter of us players being able to implement the tactics we have been practising with the coach, because sometimes we commit small mistakes that end up costing us the games.”
Rantabane said even though the desired results have not been forthcoming, their squad has seen competition among players picking up.
He said the younger players in the team “were starting to shake” and were seemingly having doubts of surviving in league, but he saw that as an opportunity to show leadership by providing the much-needed support to them.
“The younger guys are asking themselves a lot of questions whether we’ll make it or not, but as senior players we still believe that we have to keep the motivation going.
“But it can be difficult to talk to those who’ve lost hope because I believe that sometimes for you to succeed you don’t have to get everything right.
“And you’d even think this is the end of the road but if you have hope things might just turn around in the 11th-hour,” said Rantabane.
Bucks to go for broke in final push
But Amathol’amnyama still have 18 points to fight for before the season draws to a close, and if they could win all of them they could close at 38 points and stave off the worst-case scenario.
Bucks face seventh placed Spurs, who have 33 points, at Puma Rugby Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga on Saturday.
The matured centre-back doesn’t think it’s all doom and gloom for the Mthatha-based outfit.
“This is one game we need to win in order to revive our hope and our careers. So we have to win this game by all means possible.
“And the entire squad just wants to win this game because it’s the most crucial game and a win will give us the hope that we are still in the league next season.
“And we know Spurs won’t face us lying down. They will bring everything they have in order to get the three points, especially since they have homeground advantage.”
Rantabane said hope was keeping their dream of remaining in the league alive even though things might seem to be heading downhill for the only Eastern Cape NFD outfit.
“We are now fighting for our lives, and our supporters must expect everyone to give nothing short of a 100% on the pitch.
“And we’ll show them by winning every game we have left.”
The experienced defender didn’t want to agree with the views of the club’s followers who went to voice their opinions on the club’s social media pages – slamming the chopping and changing of coaches like Velile Dyaloyi and Ian Palmer.
“To be honest it’s a matter of luck because when you change tactically you want to bring in new energy to a team.
“So maybe we took longer to understand the new coach’s style and approach to games.
“And I strongly believe that new players or coaches bring in competitiveness in any club which is healthy for a team because players have to fight for their position and no one can relax if they want to play.
“It’s just a matter of us players being able to implement the tactics we have been practising with the coach, because sometimes we commit small mistakes that end up costing us the games.”
Rantabane said even though the desired results have not been forthcoming, their squad has seen competition among players picking up.
He said the younger players in the team “were starting to shake” and were seemingly having doubts of surviving in league, but he saw that as an opportunity to show leadership by providing the much-needed support to them.
“The younger guys are asking themselves a lot of questions whether we’ll make it or not, but as senior players we still believe that we have to keep the motivation going.
“But it can be difficult to talk to those who’ve lost hope because I believe that sometimes for you to succeed you don’t have to get everything right.
“And you’d even think this is the end of the road but if you have hope things might just turn around in the 11th-hour,” said Rantabane.
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