Can Bucks stop TTM

Mthatha Bucks have a mountain to climb this weekend. They are gearing up for their National First Division (NFD) League match against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) that will be staged at the Thohoyandou Stadium tomorrow.

Both TTM and Bucks desperately need the points from the match. The Eastern Cape side are fighting for survival and losing the match is likely to push them down to the bottom of the log. Bucks are currently lying in the second-last position on the log with 18 points in hand, one on top of Ubuntu Cape Town.

On the other hand, TTM will not allow Bucks to stand in their way to collect the full points in the match. A victory over the men from the Eastern Cape is likely to take them to the second spot on the log. TTM are currently lying in the fourth spot with 30 points, two behind the second-placed Real Kings.

TTM’s centre back, Carlington Nyadombo, will be available for selection tomorrow. He was out of action for two matches after seeing red in their home match against Black Leopards three weeks ago. It remains to be seen whether TTM’s defenders, Nyadombo, Frank Motebejane and Nuzhard Pail, will have the power to stop the Bucks’ fast forwards, Mpho Erasmus and Eric Ntsoeleng.

Erasmus scored a brace when his team beat Mbombela United 2-0 last weekend. TTM’s goal poachers, Themba Ndlovu, Alton Kapinga and Aluwani “Killer” Nedzamba, are expected to make Bucks’ defenders run for cover from the first whistle, while David Mathebula and Khunadi Nkoana will make things happen in the middle of the park.

The other NFD fixtures for tomorrow are: Ubuntu Cape Town vs Black Leopards, University of Pretoria vs Jomo Cosmos, Witbank Spurs vs Real Kings, Richards Bay FC vs Cape Town All Stars, Highlands Park vs Royal Eagles.

Two matches that will be played on Sunday are: Uthongathi FC vs Stellenbosch FC and Mbombela United vs Super Eagles.

Date:02 February 2018

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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