WeeklySA_AdminHOPEFULS: Tuks and Cape Town All Stars await team from the DStv to decide who will make it to the elite league next season
By Masoja Cele
With the GladAfrica season completed, the spotlight shifts to the national play-offs to determine the team to accompany Richard Bay to the elite league.
Long-time title pretenders Pretoria University and Cape Town All Stars will participate in the national play offs, by virtue of having finished second and third place in the GladAfrica league.
Pretoria University (Tuks ) were once title hopefuls but faded towards the end of the campaign. Though, they played high line attacking football they still couldn’t win matches that they could have easily won on their day. In April they dropped four crucial points after one all draws against Cape Town All Stars (away) and with JDR Stars at home before arresting the slump with a 1-0 victory against Venda Academy FC at home. The Pretoria outfit raised hopes of their faithful’s with a 1-0 top of the table win against the Rich Boyz. However, lack of stability and the final third finishing was their downfall.
Nevertheless, Tuks can be ruthless when inform. Few, will ever forget the drama and tension as they almost knocked more fancied Royal AM in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
Again, lack of steadiness and a bit of inexperience breezed in and allowed Royal AM to snatch the tie 3-2 after Tuks had led 2-0 for the better part of the proceedings. Despite of all these setbacks, AmaTuks boast a quality team that can go all the way and win promotion to the DStv.
They also have two technical minds in Tlisane Motaung (coach) and Sammy Troughton (Technical Director) both capable of motivating the team when the scales are tilted wayward. Cape Town All Stars also enter the fray for their efforts. Igugu lekapa (Pride of Cape Town) finished third behind Rich Boyz and Tuks.
All Stars started the season on a cameo pace but regain their zeal in mid-season. They instilled fear in the opposition through their shrewd type of football. They amassed a fair share of points at home and were not bad travellers either.
The Capetonians have blended the team with youth and a few of seasoned campaigners the likes of Ndiviwe Mdabuka, Eleazar Rodgers, Zaphania Mbokoma, Ayabulela Konqobe and Michael Morton. All the above mentioned players had careers in the DStv Premiership before.
The capability they possess have helped their youth to grasp quickly into professional environment. Veteran trainer Boebie Solomons is the master tactician behind the success of Igugu lekapa. Since his arrival All Stars has played better football with determination, discipline and dedication. Surely, the Cape side will approach the play-offs with the view of adding another DStv Premiership side into their province. However, Igugu lekapa and AmaTuks will learn on Saturday afternoon about the relegated team from the DStv Premieship who will join in the play-offs. One of TS Galaxy, Swallows FC or Baroka will join Tuks and All Stars in the play-offs.
All that will be determined by the results from their Saturday matches. TS Galaxy travel to Qeberha to face Chippa United, while Swallows FC play cross town rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium and Baroka travel to Chatsworth Stadium to face the not so safe Maritzburg United.
All these matches will be played on Satuday with a 3PM Kick-off. PSL Playoff Tournament : Cape Town All Stars vs Unirvesity of Pretoria Sunday 29 May 15:00. University of Pretoria vs TBD 04-June 15:00. University of Pretoria Vs Cape Town All Stars 08-June 15:00. TBD vs University of Pretoria 15 June 15:00
