Top sides clash as league resumes
THE Safa-NMB SAB league season resumes tomorrow evening with Hearts and Major Chiefs meeting in a top-of-the-table clash at the Saints field in Gelvandale.
With just four points separating the top nine teams, the real race for pole position will begin this weekend.
Hearts ended the year as log leaders on goal difference with a match in hand over Morning Stars.
“We are determined to continue from where we left off and maintain our unbeaten run,” Hearts assistant coach Munchy Margon said.
“The boys didn’t have much of a festive break and are as ready as we can be as the clubs will want to chase us down.”
Hearts have been using the Saints field in Gelvandale as a base but are gearing up to move to the old Portuguese Club in Summerstrand.
Chiefs are joint second, just a point behind the frontrunners. Stars play Roaring Tigers at the New Brighton Oval on Saturday.
Young Killers, who are tied with Chiefs in second place, take on Young Ideas at the NU9 Stadium on Sunday.
With the students still on holiday, defending champions NMU Madibaz will be hard-pressed to field a full-strength team for their match against Ikamva Movers on Sunday.
“Coach Wayne Iveson has been hard at work assessing the fitness level of the squad for Sunday’s match,” NMU manager for sport Mark Tommy said.
“We need to win to keep in touch with the frontrunners before the final run-in begins.”
Tommy questioned the rationale behind playing during summer (for amateur teams).
“This does not augur well for the standard of football in the amateur leagues.
“None of the clubs have the resources to manage the off-season and come straight back into the season in the first week of the new year.
“Clubs and officials need to be afforded the time to prepare the players for the second phase of the competition,” Tommy said.
Fairview Rovers are up against FC Winners at the Mawabo Dyube Stadium on Saturday.
“While we are determined to continue from where we left off we are taking nothing for granted,” Rovers head coach Poppy Harrison said.
“FC Winners are making their debut in the league and will be out to prove they deserve their place in the league.
“Coming so soon after the festive season, anything can happen.”