NFD sizzlers eyeing a pot of gold…
SPRINKLE seven former Premier Division clubs, add a dash of an enterprising Cape Town All Stars and a pinch of Mbombela United who almost gained promotion after one season in the first division. Stir well while dangling the carrot of top-flight football with its millions for flavour. Wait to simmer. What you have is a perfect recipe for what should be a mouth-watering National First Division season.
Seven clubs – AmaZulu, Black Leopards, Igugu leKapa, Tingwenyama, Milano United, Black Leopards and FC Cape Town – are strong contenders for the league title, while University of Pretoria and Jomo Cosmos are looking to make a quick return after their ignominous exit last season.
Add Thanda Royal Zulu, Santos, Stellenbosch FC (formerly Vasco da Gama) and the rich Royal Eagles to the mix and you have a potentially explosive season.
Teams like Cosmos, Leopards and Santos could benefit from the Under-23 rule change. Clubs are now forced to have a minimum of two Under-23 players on the field at all times, unlike the five they had to have in the starting XI previously.
That means some clubs will no longer start with five Under-23s and then quickly substitute one having met their obligations.
We take a look at three clubs that could win the league in May, guaranteeing automatic promotion to the elite PSL.
Coach:
Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubane IGUGU leKapa are overwhelming favourites to be crowned champions with an exciting squad led by Ngubane, who espouses enterprising football.
That’s how the side won over the public, with a good blend of football under former coach Dan Malesela. They kept that identity even after the departure of Malesela.
The club bolstered their side with a quality player in Paseka Sekese, who will be pulling the strings in midfield.
Abednego Mosiatlhaga, Tawfeeq Sallie, Lesvin Stoffels and Justin Jacobus are some of the signings who should carry the side forward in their march to the top-flight.
Coach:
Vusi Mkhatshwa TINGWENYAMA will continue carrying the aspirations of the people of Mpumalanga to finally have their team campaigning in the premier division.
Mpumalanga Black Aces were that team in name only as they were based in Joburg, only going to Mbombela to play their “home” games.
The people weren’t fooled though, with the club struggling to attract fans to their matches while Mbombela lured thousands of fans to KaNyamazane Stadium.
Their expansive football helped them keep those numbers.
They were almost promoted to the PSL last season when they made it to the play-offs by finishing third, but Highlands Park blew away the competition.
Participating in those play-offs strengthened the side.
Coach:
Boebie Solomons THE five clubs from the Western Cape have an advantage because of their numbers.
That means four of their 15 away games will be played just around the corner – but it also means they have to go through gruelling derbies.
No coach knows the region better and is respected more than Boebie Solomons. He has also coached Santos and Cape Town All Stars.
Twenty-four of the 90 points up for grabs will be contested in the region, which means a strong side there stand a good chance of finishing at the top.
Eezy My Kinnes have signed former Cosmos goalkeeper Sherwyn Naicker in a bid to tighten their defence. Naicker will play a key role under Solomons, who plays conservative football built on a strong defence, and then hits teams when they drop their guard.