Bucks all stirred for top eight gift

Mthatha Bucks are aiming to cement their place in the NFD top eight by the time the league goes on Christmas break.

And taking a closer look at the five matches ahead, it is not going to be smooth sailing.

But Mthatha Bucks goalkeeper coach Postnet Omony believes it can be done and relished the possibility of collecting 15 points which would take them to 29 points.

For Omony, all that matters is to avoid a blemish in the coming weeks and push for wins in all their home matches.

And they have three of those – that is nine points should they put them to bed.

First up this Saturday is Royal Eagles at the Mthatha Stadium

The Mthatha-based outfit are not favoured by history against the KwaZulu-Natal side which currently lies third on the standings, four points ahead of Bucks.

In their two meetings last season, the Eagles won both, in the process scoring four goals, while Bucks responded with a single goal.

“Obviously we are out to improve on our record against Eagles and a win is the sort of result that would mean we have improved,” said Omony.

“And we do stand a chance because we are a much improved side to what we were last season.”

After the Eagles clash, Bucks will be on the road to Santos on November 25.

Any encounter against a Premier League side will never be easy and Omony is well aware of this.

“A solid win or even a draw in this one would be good, as long as we do not lose,” he said.

A stalemate is the likely result if Santos’ stats thus far this season are anything to go by.

They have proved to be the king of draws, flirting with relegation in 14th place with seven points in 10 outings, the highest so far this season in the 16-team league.

Their journey to the festive break will see them return to Mthatha Stadium to host Milano United on December 3.

Bucks will go into this one brimming with confidence having drubbed Milano by 3-0 in their previous meeting at the same venue.

And to the home side’s advantage, all men who scored – Thabiso Mokoena, Andile Njokweni and Mashale Rantabane – are still in the Bucks’ set-up and among NFD’s in-form players currently.

But Omony cautioned against overconfidence, which he said would be their undoing in this encounter.

“Another drubbing would be great but football is a funny game, so we should guard against complacency but let us wait and see it when it comes.”

Exactly a week after welcoming Milano, Bucks will host FC Cape Town.

Previous results favour none of the two sides after they played to one-all stalemates on both occasions last season.

But the all-important one for Bucks will be their last match before Christmas on December 17, away to AmaTuks.

Omony said: “Closing the season on a high with good results will be good.”

Omony believes they have a chance to collect all 15 points that are on offer, but they will take 11 points, which is three wins and two draws.

At the back of their minds, he said, will be “trying to collect as many points as we possibly can to consolidate our position in the top eight”. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za