Baroka ‘kings of Limpopo’, boasts coach
A BULLISH Kgoloko Thobejane described Baroka FC as the Kings of Limpopo‚ ready to retain their crown and keep their status in the Premier Division.
Baroka have had something of a royal touch in the playoffs‚ cruising to the summit with seven points after three games.
That performance made up for the poor showing in their maiden season in top flight football.
They needed a second chance to survive after finishing 15th.
Bakgaga can secure their place in the elite league for next season tonight without even having to kick a ball.
If Black Leopards fail to beat Stellenbosch at the Athlone Stadium‚ Baroka will have an unassailable lead in the playoffs.
That will make their trip to Thohoyandou on Saturday to face Leopards a formality. “I don’t think we will lose there‚” Thobejane said. “We will go to Thohoyandou with the mentality that we will win that game.
“This thing of [Limpopo] derbies against Leopards‚ since last season – we have been the kings of this province. They know very well that we are the kings. They are now afraid of us.”
Leopards’ 2-1 loss to Bakgaga left Lidoda Duvha angry and emotionally-scarred.
Everyone from the players to the coach and the boss were left seething after they felt they were robbed when the referee allowed the match to continue even though Sipho Moeti’s trailing knee knocked out Leopards’ goalkeeper Rotshidzwa Muleka.
Lidoda Duvha have to bounce back from that disappointment and collect three points against Stellenbosch‚ who are already out of the race‚ to keep their hopes alive.
“We must be professional enough that we put together a good enough team to give Leopards a run for their money‚” Stellenbosch’s coach Sammy Troughton said.
“We want to finish with a victory‚ at least three points. We will be competitive.”