Bucks marksman switches to NFD club

FORMER Mthatha Bucks goalpoacher Mpho Erasmus will continue plying his trade in the National First Division after signing up with Richards Bay over the weekend.

Erasmus, who played at Bucks last season, said there were more than six offers on the table since the season had ended.

He told the Daily Dispatch that after lengthy negotiations with Richards Bay – both parties finally agreed to terms on Saturday.

“I had serious offers, even now Maccabi [recently promoted to NFD] just called me to offer me a job.

“Uthongathi, Real Kings, Mbombela United, Royal Eagles, and TS Galaxy [also recently promoted to NFD] – all those teams were offering something, but Bay came out tops,” said Erasmus.

Bucks were unable to maintain their NFD status, despite Erasmus’s 11 goals for the club during the 201718 season.

Erasmus said he had also been locked in negotiations with Premier Soccer League teams who were looking to secure his services.

“Chippa United, Golden Arrows and Black Leopards also approached me, but then I decided to give Chippa United first preference since it’s a local team.

“I’m from Uitenhage so I wanted to remain in the province, and they had come up with a better offer among the PSL teams.

“But that deal fell through before I could sign on the dotted line,” said Erasmus.

“Otherwise I would have been much happier to play for a local team, and a part of me feels I worked, because I scored at Bucks and I do meet the PSL requirements.”

He said he was excited to join an ambitious side like Richards Bay who have ambitions of being promoted to top-flight football in the future.

“I want to help this team qualify for the PSL because they gave me an offer that makes me smile.

“And that will make me wake up and go to work with one goal in mind, to fight for promotion, because I will be able to take care of my family.”

Erasmus said his pool of experience would be a boost for his new team.

“I have been scoring goals for two seasons now [at Mthatha Bucks and Zizwe United], I want to make it a third season of scoring goals.

“And I pray that I score more and Richards Bay have ex-PSL players, so I won’t struggle with support because they want to win the league.

“And I wanted to go to a serious team that wants promotion.”

The prolific striker said it was painful for him to watch Bucks having to drop down to the second-tier league to the ABC Motsepe League, but he had tried his utmost, under the circumstances.

“I don’t want to feel that experience again and even now it still haunts me because it’s like I failed, even though I scored goals for the team. So I’m part of that too no matter what I say, but then again football is not like boxing, where you play alone, it’s a team sport,” said the player who hopes to do well in next campaign.