Hier kom n ding...

The action heats up as we fast approach the business end of the National First Division, eight-points separating the log leaders from the final play-off spot, while down under there is just one point between the bottom three.

It has been a minute since I've put pen to paper, mostly due time and other commitments, but let me get back into the swing of previews – focussing mostly on Cape NFD, because as they say in these neck of the woods, “hier kom n ding...” 😉.

First stop is Athlone Stadium, as bottom-placed Ubuntu Cape Town kicks off the weekend's proceedings on Friday - hosting Jomo Cosmos who are currently on a six-match losing streak, away from home.

The Brave should fancy their chances against Ezenkosi, whose last two visits to the Mother City ended in defeat - but will also not take things lightly, with just six points separating the two sides and bearing in mind that Cosmos heads into the encounter on the back their cup progression and a league win.

All roads lead to the Kanyamazane Stadium on Saturday, as the log-leading Stellenbosch square off against one of their closest title rivals in Mbombela United.

The two sides have already met on twice this season, both ending action-filled 0-0 draw, but pressure will be on Tingwenyama according Stellies coach Steve Barker.

“Mbombela away is always a tough game, we in this position and relishing these challenges – in the end of the day the pressure is more on the opposition, If Mbombela does not get a positive result we could go eleven points clear,” concluded Barker.

Sundays action sees another Cape promotional-hopeful in action, as second-placed Ajax Cape Town host Limpopo-outfit Tshakhuma, who has found the going tough of late - collecting two points in their last four, while the Urban Warriors boast three consecutive wins at home and a first round 2-1 away victory against TTM.

Cape Umoya wraps up the NFD weekend with a trip to Richards Bay – the Spirited Ones have been quietly doing their business, currently boasting a seven-match unbeaten run in the league since Dominic Isaacs took charge of the head coaching role – a massive showing for a team who were bottom of the log before Isaacs appointment.

[Cape Fixtures]

Friday, 08 February 

Ubuntu Cape Town vs Jomo Cosmos

-Athlone Stadium

Saturday, 09 February 

Mbombela United vs Stellenbosch 

- Kanyamazane Stadium 

Sunday, 10 February 

Ajax Cape Town vs Tshakhuma TM 

- Athlone Stadium 

Richards Bay vs Cape Umoya 

-Umhlathuze Sports Complex 

Operation three points... The return!

League action returns after a week-long international break, with eight teams gunning for their first win of the 2017-18 NFD campaign, while the top-two look to make it a hat trick of victories.

Saturday, 09 September 2017

Operation three points’ kicks off at the Tuks Stadium as the University of Pretoria square off against Highlands Park. A bruised Amatuks-outfit heads into their encounter on the back of a 5-0 defeat to Jomo Cosmos, while the log-leading Lions of the North target their third consecutive win.

Saturday’s action also sees five of the newly promoted/formed teams in action - in a battle of the rookies, Ubuntu Cape Town lock horns with Super Eagles at the Athlone Stadium. A crunch encounter will be on the cards with the Bethlehem-based Eagles yet to get off the mark - two defeats in two matches, while Ubuntu heads into the clash with a point to their name.

The new kid on the Limpopo block in Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila continue their search for that elusive first goal, but will have to be defensively sound as they host the free-scoring Jomo Cosmos at the Thohoyandou Stadium.

Supporters in the KwaZulu-Natal province will have two matches to choose from, 13^th-placed Richards Bay FC host fourth-placed Mthatha Bucks at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex, while +-250 kilometres away Royal Eagles look to get their season off the ground with a match up against Stellenbosch FC at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Real Kings makes the trip to the Kanyamazane Stadium in search of their first away win against Mbombela United. History would dictate that the homeside walks away with the maximum - in three previous meetings Tingwenyama secured two victories at home, with the Magic Boys managing a win at home.

Sunday, 10 September 2017

Cape Town All Stars - the only team who are yet to concede a goal, travels to the Puma Rugby Stadium gunning to make it three wins from three, along with a hat trick of away wins against Witbank Spurs.

The current ABC Motsepe League national champion's Uthongathi FC, heads into their encounter against Black Leopards as the only unbeaten newly formed/promoted side. The Cane Cutters as they are affectionately known will surely be targeting the maximum having drawn their opening two matches.

Please note that all matches kick off at 15H00.

Saturday
University of Pretoria vs Highlands Park -Tuks Stadium
Ubuntu CT vs Super Eagles - Athlone Stadium
Tshakhuma TM vs Jomo Cosmos – Thohoyandou Stadium
Richards Bay vs Mthatha Bucks - Umhlathuze Sports Complex
Royal Eagles vs Stellenbosch - Harry Gwala Stadium
Mbombela United vs Real Kings - Kanyamazane Stadium

Sunday
Witbank Spurs vs Cape Town All Stars - Puma Rugby Stadium
Uthongathi FC vs Black Leopards - Princess Magogo Stadium

Stars continue to shine

It was up to the summit of the National First Division for Cape Town All Stars after they defeated Richards Bay FC 1-0 in an action-filled Friday afternoon at the Athlone Stadium.

The home side didn’t have to wait long to open their account, Nyembezi Setelele latching onto a Ruzaigh Gamildien through ball to put Igugu Lekapa ahead after six minutes played.

Six minutes later it was Thabiso Nkoana with a chance to find the equaliser for the Natal Rich Boys, but his shot across goal went agonisingly wide as it remained advantage Stars.

The remainder of the half saw both sides throwing everything in attack, but it was the David Kannemeyer-coached side who took a one goal lead into the break.

In the second half the 2016-17 NFD promotion-winning coach Roger Sikhakhane went all out in attack, but it was not to be as the Rich Boyz were kept at bay by a resilient home defence.

The result sees Cape Town All Stars ensuring their second win in as many matches, securing first spot on the log. Richards Bay on the other hand suffered their first defeat, in their first away assignment.

It’s time to buckle up!

It’s time to buckle up, as the fixture list for the second round of National First Division (NFD) action sees no less than four of the five newly formed/promoted teams gearing for their first away trip of the 2017-18 campaign.

Friday, 25 August 2017

First up will be Richards Bay, taking a trip down the coast to the Mother City as they square off against Cape Town All Stars at the Athlone Stadium

The Rich Boyz head into Friday’s encounter on the back of a 1-1 draw against their KZN neighbours Real Kings, while Igugu Lekapa will belooking to maintain their winning momentum after their 1-0 victory, away to Limpopo-based Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

Saturday, 26 August 2017

Another KZN-outfit who will be targeting maximum points at the Athlone Stadium will be current ABC Motsepe League national champions Uthongathi - the Cane Cutters have a tough assignment though as they face the log-leaders Stellenbosch FC.

Continuing with Saturday’s proceedings, Royal Eagles head coach Allan Freese has a date with his former employers, as Highlands Park travel to Harry Gwala Stadium - while over at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Real Kings will be gunning for their first win against Witbank Spurs.

Saturday also sees NFD league action making its returns to the Free State as newly promoted Super Eagles go in search of their first points of the 2017-18 campaign, locking horns with Mbombela United at the Goble Park.

Sunday, 27 August 2017

There are three matches on Sunday -Black Leopards will look to make it two wins from two as they host another of the new clubs, Ubuntu Cape Town at the Thohoyandou Stadium. 

Mthatha Bucks return to their fortresswhen they host Limpopo-based Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at Mthatha Stadium, while Jomo Cosmos and the University of Pretoria go in search of their first three points of the season at the Vosloorus Stadium.

Please note that all matches kick off at 15H00.

Friday
Cape Town All Stars vs Richards Bay
- Athlone Stadium

                                            

Saturday
Stellenbosch vs Uthongathi FC
-Athlone Stadium                              
Real Kings vs Witbank Spurs
-Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
Royal Eagles vs Highlands Park
-Harry Gwala Stadium
Super Eagles vs Mbombela United
-Goble Park Stadium
                               
Sunday                       
Black Leopards vs Ubuntu Cape Town
-Thohoyandou Stadium
Jomo Cosmos vs University of Pretoria
-Vosloorus Stadium
Mthatha Bucks vs Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila
-Mthatha Stadium

Feel it... It's almost here!

The 97-day wait is almost over! Yip, feel it... it's almost here - #NFD action returns on Saturday, 19 August and if the boardroom activities are anything to go by, a cracker of a season will surely be on the cards.

Opening round fixtures sees no less than five of the eight clashes, being between teams who will meet each other for the first time - throw in four derbies and you guaranteed an action-filled afternoon.

I briefly unpack Saturday’s action as teams return from Mozambique, some adding 17 players to their squad and two promoted teams all part of the action.

Highlands Park vs Jomo Cosmos
- Makhulong Stadium

In a rematch of the 2014-15 opening round fixture, two former PSL-sides take to the field looking for a positive start along with the Ekurhuleni derby honours. The Lions of the North will be chasing their first victory against a team who they faced on two occasions, but their history dates back to 1983 - when the legendary Jomo Sono bought the then highflying Highlands Park.

Mbombela United vs Black Leopards
- KaNyamazane Stadium

Lidoda Duvha will surely be gunning for straight promotion, after falling short at three play-off rounds in the past four seasons. Tingwenyama on the other hand will be hoping their pre-season trip to Mozambique will ignite their maiden season heroics, but the untimely departure of Coach Ashwin Sutton could cause a delay. The sides have previously met in four encounters, both teams with a win under their belt, along with two draws.

University of Pretoria vs Mthatha Bucks
- Tuks Stadium

A new look Amathol'amnyama will look to build on last season's momentum, Coach Ian Palmer having added a massive 17 new recruits, with their first assignment against the Shaun Bartlett-lead AmaTuks. The last time these two sides squared off at the Tuks Stadium, it was Bucks who looked to secure the three points, only for a late strike by the now departed Anthony Gordinho, which saw the match end in a 2-2 draw.

Uthongathi FC vs Royal Eagles
-Princess Magogo Stadium

The ABC Motsepe League national champions Uthongathi gets their campaign off the ground with a KZN derby against the big-spending Royal Eagles. The Cane Cutters as the rookies are known has shown some good potential in the recent KZN Premier’s Cup, defeating PSL-outfit AmaZulu but coming short against Golden Arrows.

Witbank Spurs vs Super Eagles
- Puma Rugby Stadium

Siyavutha heads into the season as the longest NFD-campaigning-side, squaring off against Bethlehem-based rookies Super Eagles. Spurs have in recent seasons shown that they can compete with the chasing pack but a matchup against a fairly unknown quantity in Eagles, should be a tricky opener.

Six looking to make it big…

With the start of the 2017-18 National First Division season on my doorstep, it will only be fair for me to firstly open the door to the massive six additions to what should be a cracker of a season.

For starters let’s kick-off with a team that makes its return after spending a season in the land of milk and honey, then digging into the massive or technically said five rookies.

So it’s back to life in the NFD for Highlands Park, their return to the elite league was short-lived, as the Lions of the North finished in 16 position on the PSL table resulting in a straight drop in division.

On the up after graduating from the ABC Motsepe league is Uthongathi FC who are also known as the Cane Cutters from Tongaat, a town in the KZN province. There will also be a return to NFD action in the Free State as the City of Roses will be represented by Super Eagles FC – PS not to be twisted with Nigeria.

Now let's talk money or should I sales and purchases, getting the ball rolling was 2016-17 NFD champs who sold their PSL status to now former NFD-side Amazulu, This resulted in Usuthu’s status being up for the taking and in stepped the newly formed Richards Bay FC.

Moving down the coast, two Cape-sides in FC Cape Town and Milano United have opted to sell due to being unable to compete with the demands of the league - opening up the door for Ubuntu Cape Town a football academy in the Southern Suburbs of the Mother City, while Eezy my Kinnes status was bought by a Limpopo-based ABC Motsepe side known as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

Six additions along with the province they’ll represent.

Highlands Park – Gauteng

Uthongathi FC – KwaZulu-Natal

Super Eagles FC – Free State

Richards Bay FC – KwaZulu-Natal

Ubuntu Cape Town – Western Cape

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila - Limpopo

Macha improved attack for Baroka?

Bakgaga will be hoping it’s not a case of ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’ after recruiting Zambian striker Lewis Macha, following his release from Kaizer Chiefs.

After retaining their PSL status via the play-off system, Coach Kgoloko Thobejane was quoted as saying, “Sometimes as a coach you must not get yourself into this thing of signing, signing and signing everyone”.

The big question would be after failing to find the back of the net at Chiefs, what motivated Baroka in offering Lewis a two-year contract…

The Limpopo–based outfit are no strangers in acquiring foreign strikers, starting life in the PSL with a proven goal scorer in Ugandan Geofrey Massa, but his seven appearances amounted in no goals before being released. Next they called upon Mozambican national Helder Pelembe, his 35 minutes in six months saw him call it quits with no goals to show.

So where does that leave Macha – how many goals do you think the former chiefs striker will score?