United Artists are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the provincial promotional playoffs of the SAB League that will be played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane this weekend.
The regional champions from the five regions will partake in the two-day event. The teams that had qualified for the annual event are: United Artists (Vhembe), PJ Stars FC (Waterberg), Tzaneen United FC (Mopani), Star Sign FC (Capricorn) and Fetakgomo United FC (Sekhukhune).
Asked about their level of readiness for the tournament, the managing director of United Artists, Mr Thikhedzo Mashau, said that nothing would stop them from gaining promotion to the ABC Motsepe League. He said that the team members had been training in their camp from the day they had been crowned champions of the Vhembe Regional League. He added that they had played several friendly matches to check the players' match fitness.
United Artists' way to the provincial playoffs went via Tshivhazwaulu Peace Makers, whom they beat 6-5 in the regional final at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday, 12 June.
Each team will play four matches in the tournament. United Artists' opening match will be against the Capricorn region's ambassadors, Stars Sign FC, on Saturday, starting at 12:00. They will meet their counterparts from Mopani Region, Tzaneen United FC, later in the afternoon. United Artists will open the day's programme on Sunday when they host PJ Stars at 08:00. They will wrap up their Sunday programme by testing their strength against Fetakgomo United. This match is scheduled to start at 14:00.
This is not United Artists' first time to take part in the provincial playoffs. Their last attempt was in 2018, when they failed to make the grade at the Mahwelereng Stadium in the Waterberg Region. The best two teams in the playoffs will gain promotion to the ABC Motsepe League.