WeeklySA_AdminFRANTIC: Battle of survival is set to be a bruising encounter as both clubs sorely need relief from further downslide…
By Masoja Cele
Upington City who have drifted further down the log standings in recent times in the Motsepe Foundation Championship face the out of sorts Cape Town Spurs on Sunday at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium, Upington. Kick off 15:30.
City made an impressive start to the season and at some stage were among the top four teams leading the pack.
Presently, they are lying twelfth on the table after fifteen matches. With the results not forthcoming, the Northern Cape side employed the more experienced mentor Brandon ‘’Braakies’’Truter to replace his predecessor coach Thulani Nkosi. Apparently, Trutter was on the books of his current employer serving as a technical director before he was enticed by the Betway Premiership outfit Richards Bay to serve as a senior coach. However, his stay at The Rich Boyz was cut short due to poor results.
Then the former Moroka Swallows gaffer returned to Bafana Ba Gucci as a head coach. Truter’s debut at City was against Pretoria Callies in a 0-0 draw last week.
The winless run stretched Bafana Ba Gucci to nine games after the goalless against the Romans. But, there was great improvement during their match against Callies. The only glitch was the failure of their target men to put the ball into the net. Truter’s troops will have to be more resilient in their remaining matches if they nurse any hope of moving away from the unsafe zone.
Bafana Ba Gucci have acquired the services of Orlando Pirates duo on loan, defender Jabu Mokone and left winger Seth Green until the end of the season. Mokone and Green are expected to add depth to the side.
The pair will be partnered by the experienced midfielder Promise Mkhuma and former Sekhukhune United defensive midfielder Tlotlo Leepile and the free scoring Kyle Peters.
However this match won’t be a simple task for the Northern Cape ensemble as Spurs are also threaten by the dreaded axe.
The Western Cape side are sitting at position fourteen on the log with thirteen points after fifteen matches. Though,the club employed the much travelled manager in Ernst Middendorp, the results are still trickling in slowly.
Before, the Christmas break Spurs boss Ari Efstathiou had threatened the German mentor with an exit door if the results were not to improve. So far the Urban Warriors have won one match against Casric Stars and lost to Pretoria Callies 2-1 away from home after the Festive break.
Against Bafana Ba Gucci, Spurs will have to double their efforts if they hope to bring all three points away from home. Championship teams are now approaching the second phase and it will take gutsy performance tied with discipline to win the division or drop to the lower league.
Maybe, the departure of the shrewd defender Rush win Dortley and prolific striker Ashley Cupido to Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch respectively might have wrecked the spine of the team. Nevertheless, coach Middendorp have other options to play a competitive team against City on Sunday.
The Urban Warriors technical team will rest their hope on the shoulders of their two young prodigies, the tricky Azola Jakalashe and creative midfielder Asanele Velebhayi.
The duo could be a menace when in form. This match promises to be a do or die affair as both sides are in precarious positions.
