Fresh from winning a protest that saw them move up top, equal on 64 points with Lion City, Tornado FC’s Thobela Bikwani is all war-talk ahead of their all-important match against Emperors FC tomorrow.
The Mdantsane outfit were yesterday awarded three points after winning a case against Bees, who had failed to field five U23 players, as is the rule, in a recent match against them.
Bikwani is brimming with confidence that his troops will be ready to fire from all cylinders away from home at Zwide Stadium.
According to him, his side have come a long way and would not let the title slip through their fingers when it mattered most.
Tornado are eyeing a spot in the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs due in June in Bloemfontein, in which the two clubs that reach the final will be promoted to the NFD.
The Mdantsane-based club will be hoping to join Mthatha Bucks as the second Eastern Cape team to be added in the second tier.
But that is if Bucks survive relegation and Tornado’s campaign is a successful one at the lucrative and highly competitive national playoffs.
For Bikwani, now is not the time to retreat or surrender the top spot to their second-placed Port Elizabeth nemesis – City.
“It is going to be war in PE but we have worked very hard and we are ready for it,” said an upbeat Bikwani, a former Bafana Bafana international. “We know all odds will be against us, as is always the case, when we are playing that side but we will soldier on and we have never been this focused.
“For us this will be like a final because it is now or never and I repeat, by end of Saturday, we will be the provincial champions.”
The advantage for Tornado is that their destiny is in their own hands because all they need to do is win their remaining two matches and the title will be in their pocket.
However, a win tomorrow may see them become champions-elect immediately after the match if Safa Disciplinary Committee rules for the expulsion of Blackburn Rovers from the league.
The rule-book has been thrown at Rovers for pulling a no-show in three matches, which according to the rules of the game should lead to the termination of their membership from the league.
The expulsion of Rovers will see City lose six points earned from two wins against the embattled Blackburn, while Tornado will be docked of three points.
For this reason, Bikwani believes their last match of the season against bitter rival – FC Buffalo next weekend, will just be a ceremonial one.
But Tornado will not have an easy date because Emperors are fighting for their lives in the relegation zone at 12th place, with a loss likely to see them drop further down – possibly to 15th place. — zingisam@
dispatchlive.co.za/
Tornado’s troops primed for the Emperors battle
The Mdantsane outfit were yesterday awarded three points after winning a case against Bees, who had failed to field five U23 players, as is the rule, in a recent match against them.
Bikwani is brimming with confidence that his troops will be ready to fire from all cylinders away from home at Zwide Stadium.
According to him, his side have come a long way and would not let the title slip through their fingers when it mattered most.
Tornado are eyeing a spot in the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs due in June in Bloemfontein, in which the two clubs that reach the final will be promoted to the NFD.
The Mdantsane-based club will be hoping to join Mthatha Bucks as the second Eastern Cape team to be added in the second tier.
But that is if Bucks survive relegation and Tornado’s campaign is a successful one at the lucrative and highly competitive national playoffs.
For Bikwani, now is not the time to retreat or surrender the top spot to their second-placed Port Elizabeth nemesis – City.
“It is going to be war in PE but we have worked very hard and we are ready for it,” said an upbeat Bikwani, a former Bafana Bafana international. “We know all odds will be against us, as is always the case, when we are playing that side but we will soldier on and we have never been this focused.
“For us this will be like a final because it is now or never and I repeat, by end of Saturday, we will be the provincial champions.”
The advantage for Tornado is that their destiny is in their own hands because all they need to do is win their remaining two matches and the title will be in their pocket.
However, a win tomorrow may see them become champions-elect immediately after the match if Safa Disciplinary Committee rules for the expulsion of Blackburn Rovers from the league.
The rule-book has been thrown at Rovers for pulling a no-show in three matches, which according to the rules of the game should lead to the termination of their membership from the league.
The expulsion of Rovers will see City lose six points earned from two wins against the embattled Blackburn, while Tornado will be docked of three points.
For this reason, Bikwani believes their last match of the season against bitter rival – FC Buffalo next weekend, will just be a ceremonial one.
But Tornado will not have an easy date because Emperors are fighting for their lives in the relegation zone at 12th place, with a loss likely to see them drop further down – possibly to 15th place. — zingisam@
dispatchlive.co.za/
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