“YEA, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me,” reads Psalm 23:4 in the King James version of the Holy Bible.
This is the daily prayer to Mthatha Bucks coach Velile Dyaloyi, club management and supporters as they brace themselves for an in-form Cape Town All Stars at the Mthatha Stadium this afternoon.
Bucks, currently flirting with relegation in 14th place cannot afford anything less than maximum points in this meeting for getting closer to getting the chop is becoming a reality every point they drop.
Not so long ago, the Mthatha outfit were seven points ahead of fellow relegation candidates Moroka Swallows, but that has since become three points going into today’s must-win encounter.
It does not work in Bucks’ favour that in All Stars they face a side who are yet to lose this month following the arrival of the evergreen Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubane who took over the coaching reins on April 5.
Under “Professor”, All Stars remain unbeaten having achieved two victories and a one-all stalemate against Moroka Swallows.
Bucks on the other side, during the same period, registered a win; a draw and a loss.
But today’s clash being their second last at home, anything less than maximum points does not bode well for their survival.
What could escalate Bucks’ relegation woes is that their final home match on May 15 will be against Highlands Park who are currently in the log summit and vying for lucrative promotion to the PSL top flight.
“Amathol’amnyama” general manager Luxolo Matikinca understands this too well.
“The points we collect in could determine our survival. So we need all the support we can get,” he wrote on the club’s Facebook page.
Matikinca however consoled himself by saying there was “12 points to play for” in the four matches left before the curtain comes down on the 2015-16 season and the bottom two clubs in the NFD log-standings get the chop to the third tier – the ABC Motsepe League.
Bucks head coach Velile Dyaloyi conceded that the position the club finds itself in was not a comfortable one, adding that “we do not fear anyone”, including All Stars.
For him, what mattered the most in today’s clash will be to be proactive rather than reactive to the opposition attacks.
“Our mentality has got to change in that we should impose ourselves on the opponents and score early.”
But it remains to be seen how they are going to achieve this with All Stars having confirmed the signing of hardcore erstwhile Kaizer Chiefs defensive midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha who is expected to play today. A loss will spell trouble for Bucks, because hot on their heels are the Dube Birds who are at home to Vasco da Gama today.
Swallows, 15th on the table, just three points behind Bucks, appear to have risen from the ashes having recorded two away victories in their previous three outings.
On the other end of the NFD log, second-placed Nedbank Cup high-flyers Baroka FC are on the road to third-placed Royal Eagles in a match whose outcome is expected to make things interesting at the top.
Bucks now set sail on a wing and a prayer
This is the daily prayer to Mthatha Bucks coach Velile Dyaloyi, club management and supporters as they brace themselves for an in-form Cape Town All Stars at the Mthatha Stadium this afternoon.
Bucks, currently flirting with relegation in 14th place cannot afford anything less than maximum points in this meeting for getting closer to getting the chop is becoming a reality every point they drop.
Not so long ago, the Mthatha outfit were seven points ahead of fellow relegation candidates Moroka Swallows, but that has since become three points going into today’s must-win encounter.
It does not work in Bucks’ favour that in All Stars they face a side who are yet to lose this month following the arrival of the evergreen Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubane who took over the coaching reins on April 5.
Under “Professor”, All Stars remain unbeaten having achieved two victories and a one-all stalemate against Moroka Swallows.
Bucks on the other side, during the same period, registered a win; a draw and a loss.
But today’s clash being their second last at home, anything less than maximum points does not bode well for their survival.
What could escalate Bucks’ relegation woes is that their final home match on May 15 will be against Highlands Park who are currently in the log summit and vying for lucrative promotion to the PSL top flight.
“Amathol’amnyama” general manager Luxolo Matikinca understands this too well.
“The points we collect in could determine our survival. So we need all the support we can get,” he wrote on the club’s Facebook page.
Matikinca however consoled himself by saying there was “12 points to play for” in the four matches left before the curtain comes down on the 2015-16 season and the bottom two clubs in the NFD log-standings get the chop to the third tier – the ABC Motsepe League.
Bucks head coach Velile Dyaloyi conceded that the position the club finds itself in was not a comfortable one, adding that “we do not fear anyone”, including All Stars.
For him, what mattered the most in today’s clash will be to be proactive rather than reactive to the opposition attacks.
“Our mentality has got to change in that we should impose ourselves on the opponents and score early.”
But it remains to be seen how they are going to achieve this with All Stars having confirmed the signing of hardcore erstwhile Kaizer Chiefs defensive midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha who is expected to play today. A loss will spell trouble for Bucks, because hot on their heels are the Dube Birds who are at home to Vasco da Gama today.
Swallows, 15th on the table, just three points behind Bucks, appear to have risen from the ashes having recorded two away victories in their previous three outings.
On the other end of the NFD log, second-placed Nedbank Cup high-flyers Baroka FC are on the road to third-placed Royal Eagles in a match whose outcome is expected to make things interesting at the top.
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