Decent player incentives drive success

The players and technical team of Uthongathi FC have shown that they are capable of taking the team up from the GladAfrica Championship to the Absa Premiership and it is now up to the club’s management to keep their end of the bargain to ensure this happens.

The Cane Cutters have leapt to the top of the standings in the Championship where they enjoy a five point lead with one game in hand, and SuperSportTV analyst, James Mayinga believes they can go all the way now.

Mayinga said history in the division suggests that teams who are top at the halfway mark by a big margin go on and win the Championship and get promoted.

It has happened with Baroka FC, Highlands Park and Stellenbosch FC in the recent past.

“They had a good start taking into account that it was delayed due to the ownership issues with rumours of a sale to the Mpisanes,” said Mayinga.

“But again if you check, most of their players have been there since two seasons ago when they were promoted to this division. They understand the Championship and their coach Johnny Ferreira’s philosophy,” added the former Moroka Swallows player.

He said what works for them is that they do not have flashy players but a group of hard workers.

“They do not have flamboyant players, they are the players with good work ethic and they play for each other. If you check their back four, they are very experienced with (Sibonelo) Ntshangase the captain, Issa Saar (left), Njabulo Ngcobo and Cheslyn Jampies and Badra Ali Sangare in goal, who is also an experienced keeper,” said Mayinga.

“Now maybe the problem will be for management to fork out bonuses week in and week out. That’s their only challenge now,” he added jokingly.