WeeklySA_AdminMagic touchs: Coach Mandla Qhogi‘s arrival has changed fortunes for the kzn outfit looking for promotion to Elite League
By Masoja Cele
Motsepe Foundation Championship log leaders Milford FC will be keen to further extend their lead when they host title pace setters Upington City on Sunday at Princess Magogo Stadium, Durban. Kick-off is at 15:30.
Last season Milford performed below par and almost lost its place in the championship. However, luck prevailed as they picked up valuable points just at the end. This campaign, Milford has been a dominant force and are currently sitting at the top of the log standings twenty points from nine opening matches.
The KZN side have shown they are amongst the favourites for promotion to the elite league. Their 2024/25 league form has been consistency winning back to back fixtures against Leruma United (3-0) and an intense 3-2 win at Baroka. But, prior to this achievement they suffered a rude awakening 3-0 defeat at the hands of Orbit College.
It appeared to be a step up in class when former Orlando Pirates MDC coach Mandla Qhogi was roped in as Milford head coach in June. Not long after his arrival the KZN side fortunes changed for the better. Qhogi is known to be a disciplinarian figure. The former Bucs youth coach had a hand in the development of the Buccaneers teenage sensation Relebohile Mofokeng and Zakhele Lepasa.
The Stallions will rely mainly on the likes of Thobela Sikhakhane and Lindokuhle Zungu to harass the visitor’s stubborn defence. In the belly of the field Qhogi will rest his trust on the creative Andile Nkosi partnered with another midfield workhorse Xolani Ngcobo. Meanwhile, the defence will be marshalled by the unyielding centre back Thabo Xaba.
This fixture promises to be an intense battle as Upington City will be keen to cause an upset at Stallions. Lying fifth in the championship, the Northern Cape team will be eager to cause an upset against the inform Milford to boost their unsatisfactory position on the log table.
Speaking to Weekly SA Mirror, this is what Bafana BaGussi coach Thulani Nkosi had to say ‘’We know Milford are on top of their game. Nevertheless, we will approach the fixture like any other match. We will be very cautious on Sunday, but we won’t hold back.
Our intention is to win the match and try to challenge for promotion to the Premier League. I guess, all teams in the championship are playing to win promotion, we are no different. This is a tough league and you don’t want to stay there forever’’ Nkosi says.
‘’We have strengthened the team with signing of central defender Sibusiso Mthethwa from Richards Bay and Given Khupe who played for Moroka Swallows last season. I believe their arrival will give the team different options. I am also delighted with the recovery from injury of the 20 year old striker William Nel. He has already scored two goals si9ncec his long lay-off injury’’ concluded Nkosi.
In another Motsepe Foundation Championship crucial fixture Pretoria University FC will engage Venda Football Academy at Absa Tuks Stadium, Pretoria on Sunday. Kick-off is at 15:30.
