Tornado set to unleash all their firepower
TORNADO FC boss Siphiwo “Mawawa” Nyobo is confident his team is well prepared to prevail at the National First Division playoffs in Polokwane at the beginning of June. The team departs on Thursday.
If Tornado finish in the top two at the nine-team tournament, they will gain promotion to the National First Division and replace relegated Eastern Cape neighbours Mthatha Bucks in the NFD.
“The boys are ready to compete because we’ve had fitness tests to evaluate whether they are prepared to represent Buffalo City Metro and the whole of Eastern Cape in Limpopo.
“And they have shown the professionals that were testing them that they are in good shape,” said Nyobo.
“As we have seen the group [A] that we are in (The Dolphins and Buya Msutu) we see ourselves as the better side,” he said.
“That’s why we say we are going to gain promotion this year, without a doubt.”
Nyobo said preparing for the thirdtier league beforehand was what helped them reach the top at the end of the season.
“We started everything early, because during pre-season many people who were watching us would have thought we were going crazy.
“But we knew that we had two months to prepare for the league, hence we could not waste any time, and the contribution of our coach made a huge and notable difference.
“Him being so humble has also helped us a lot, because in football there are many things that can break your spirit.
“But he didn’t allow anything to stand in his way, because he knew what the team wanted.
“Because our own fans were saying things behind his back – but he always stuck to the mission and not for one day has he came to me and said he’s leaving the team.
“Because there were negative comments about the team taking on a former goalkeeper as head coach, including his assistant (former Amavarara goalkeeper coach, Vuyisani Mangaliso).
“But then I said to those that came to me, ‘let’s give them a chance and see what they can do for us’, and now they have managed to take us to the playoffs,” he said.
Nyobo said the Buffalo City Municipality Metro promised they would assist the Mdantsane-based club when it comes to the logistics of taking part in the tournament.
“The provincial government has already assisted us, as we are leaving this week to start our preparations in Polokwane because we want to acclimatise ourselves with the weather conditions up there.
“We leave on the 24th and we should arrive that side the following day, so we hope that Safa-Buffalo City will also live up to their promise and assist us as well.”
Nyobo also pointed to the economic spinoffs that a promotion to NFD would bring to the city and surrounding areas.
“For instance the teams that will come here will be using our hotels and shops, including the street vendors close to the stadium will get more business.”
In their opening game Tornado will take on Buya Msutu and then will go up against The Dolphins. Both matches will be played at the Turfloop University Fields.