Dube has blind faith in Bucks’ great escape

MTHATHA Bucks coach Julius Dube is refusing to throw in the towel despite a morale-shattering 3-0 defeat by National First Division (NFD) champions Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa at the weekend.

Bucks went down to the already promoted side when they are the ones more desperate for points to avoid the drop. The defeat left them propping up the log and needing a mathematical permutation in order to avoid the axe.

But Dube saw some positives in the clash against Lions of the North, insisting his players offered their all.

Dube blamed the defeat on their conceding an early goal due to a lack of concentration.

Bucks went into the break trailing by an odd goal giving them hope that they could turn the tables at the restart.

“We managed to push up until half time – down 1-0, but then again, I don’t think we do well away from home.

“As much as we wanted something out of the game, the opponents showed that they are the league champions – they were above us in all departments.

“It was always going to be a tall order for Bucks to get maximum points away from home having dropped crucial points at home.”

Last weekend, they only got a point from a 2-all draw against Richard’s Bay, a side they should have buried if they hope to survive.

Dube conceded as much, saying the points they dropped at home were going to make things hard for them, especially when playing away.

“It would be unfair of me to say we looked like we would get something out of the Highlands Park game, because last week we got a draw from a home game.”

Bucks are now targeting Jomo Cosmos at home this coming weekend.

The game offers them their last chance to keep their mathematical chance of survival alive.

Dube says nothing short of a victory will be good enough.

“But if we don’t get maximum points at home this coming weekend and play a draw or lose, we’ll be out [relegated].

“We just have to try our best and motivate the players as much we can for this week so we can get maximum points at the weekend and pray that other teams we’re competing against don’t get maximum points.”

It will be a mammoth task for Bucks as Cosmos is chasing for the promotional playoffs to PSL.