Mthatha Bucks have been playing in the provincial ABC Motsepe League, formerly known as Vodacom League, for five years.
But the time to step to the National First Division has come as they embark on the national playoffs journey this week.
Having touched down in Kimberley yesterday ahead of their opening match against Limpopo representatives, Magesi FC tomorrow morning, their head coach Julius Dube believes collecting maximum points from the start is of utmost importance.
Dube’s completed their preparations with a week-long training camp in Bloemfontein last weekend and will now have three matches in which to battle it out for the lucrative promotion.
At stake during the annual competition are two slots available in the NFD and only a summit finish in each group will make a club go through.
In the competition official opening yesterday during a Group A match, Free state-based Roses United emerged 3-1 victors against KwaZulu-Natal’s Milford FC.
In another encounter, Group A favourites, Western Cape side Glendene United beat African All Stars of Gauteng by 1-0 in what is considered a group of death.
Mpumalanga representatives, Mbombela United are the fifth club to complete Group B.
Group B has Bucks; hosts Hungry Lions; Limpopo-based Magesi and North West Shining Stars and only starts tomorrow by virtue of one club less compared to Group A.
According to Dube, was going to be tough “because every match is like a final and you lose once, you are at risk of not making it whereas with Group A you still have a chance because in four games anything is possible and one loss does not spell disaster.”
Dube added: “What will help us as Mthatha Bucks is that we treat every opponent equally, in our world there is nothing like an easy team.
“Players understood my vision from the first day I got here and we have been on the same page since.
Bucks captain, Sibusiso Mapompo said he and his colleagues would not let down the people of the Eastern Cape.
“We will go back home with an NFD status as we begin a journey of taking this team to the top.”
Upbeat Bucks in final push for glory
But the time to step to the National First Division has come as they embark on the national playoffs journey this week.
Having touched down in Kimberley yesterday ahead of their opening match against Limpopo representatives, Magesi FC tomorrow morning, their head coach Julius Dube believes collecting maximum points from the start is of utmost importance.
Dube’s completed their preparations with a week-long training camp in Bloemfontein last weekend and will now have three matches in which to battle it out for the lucrative promotion.
At stake during the annual competition are two slots available in the NFD and only a summit finish in each group will make a club go through.
In the competition official opening yesterday during a Group A match, Free state-based Roses United emerged 3-1 victors against KwaZulu-Natal’s Milford FC.
In another encounter, Group A favourites, Western Cape side Glendene United beat African All Stars of Gauteng by 1-0 in what is considered a group of death.
Mpumalanga representatives, Mbombela United are the fifth club to complete Group B.
Group B has Bucks; hosts Hungry Lions; Limpopo-based Magesi and North West Shining Stars and only starts tomorrow by virtue of one club less compared to Group A.
According to Dube, was going to be tough “because every match is like a final and you lose once, you are at risk of not making it whereas with Group A you still have a chance because in four games anything is possible and one loss does not spell disaster.”
Dube added: “What will help us as Mthatha Bucks is that we treat every opponent equally, in our world there is nothing like an easy team.
“Players understood my vision from the first day I got here and we have been on the same page since.
Bucks captain, Sibusiso Mapompo said he and his colleagues would not let down the people of the Eastern Cape.
“We will go back home with an NFD status as we begin a journey of taking this team to the top.”
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