Bucks set cat among the pigeons with win
Mthatha Bucks might just be on their way back to National First Division after they surprised their counterparts when they assumed their position at the summit of the ABC Motsepe League log-standings after beating Bush Bucks Academy 5-0 over the weekend. Bucks only have two games to play in the third-tier league and the positive result lifted them to number one with 62 points at the summit of the standings. Meanwhile, Tornado who’s been leading the pack are on 61 points at second place on the log. Reacting to the stunning win against the league freshmen, Bucks COO Lunga “Doc” Tukute said they wanted “to fix our mistakes and we want to make those corrections as soon as possible”. He Bucks were fantasising said with the idea of reaching the promotional playoffs next month after they were abruptly relegated from the National First Division last season. Bucks have done a stellar job in bouncing back in their thirdtier campaign after they started the season with only seven players. “We’ve seen where we went wrong [in the NFD] and we are motivated now because we’ve tasted NFD life and we know how to behave at that level and I think we belong there,” said Tukute. He was delighted with the five goals scored on the day, citing poor goal difference. “Whenever we get an opportunity to score we have to make sure we close in on the opposition.” But Bucks still have a monkey on their backs as their lead might be shortlived as Tornado still have an outstanding appeal with the SA Football Association. Tornado drew 2-all against Yaka United and it’s alleged that Yaka might have fielded an illegible player during that game. Word in local football circles is that the reigning champions have already won that dispute, but that is yet to be confirmed – as they have not been allocated the points allegedly due to them. “We still have to worry about Tornado because there’s a rumour that they might have won that dispute against Yaka. “Because if it’s true that Tornado won that case, they will be awarded two points and they will move to the summit. So until we get the verdict of that dispute we know that we are not in the clear. “But we are focusing on the job at hand which is the two remaining games against Future Tigers and Birmingham City. But we still hope that we’ll remain at number one.” Tukute said nothing short of a win would be acceptable against Tigers, but he conceded it might be a challenge as Tigers were lingering in the relegation zone. “Hence we expecting a difficult time, and we hope we can continue with our good run before going to our last game against Birmingham City in East London. “Remember that Birmingham is one of the teams that beat us at home this season, but then again the confidence of the players is where we want it,” he said. Tukute conceded that when they lost 3-1 to City during the first round they were still trying to assemble a team which could compete, like the one they have now. That team includes longserving players like Sifiso Ntjolo, and Zambian-born centreforward Kangwa Chileshe. “That team we played City with was not as strong as the one we have today, because after that the window period opened and we managed to sign new players. “So we’ll go into that game with enough ammunition to tame them, we just hoping Tornado will drop points when they play against Pondo Chiefs,” said Tukute.