Ubuntu upbeat about their future as they fight to avoid relegation

THE Mother City’s three National First Division clubs all play away today.

There is plenty on the line for league rookies Ubuntu Cape Town, who tackle KZN rivals Uthongathi FC chasing back- to- back victories and aware that a positive outcome would keep them above the relegation zone.

Currently in 12th place on the 16-team standings with four rounds left, Ubuntu are a point above the drop zone.

Two teams will be relegated, and as things stand, bottom-ofthe-log Mthatha Bucks look set for the chop.

Second- bottom Super Eagles, NFD rookies Uthongathi FC, Richards Bay and Ubuntu complete the bottom five and are separated by a point.

Ubuntu did hammer Eagles 3-0 last time out in an away performance that impressed their American coach Casey Prince.

“We’ve also played a better brand of football this year and our results show that,” said Prince.

“It’s taken time to be competitive.

“The first half of the season was a struggle, but this year we’ve come on in leaps and bounds, we just need to be consistent.

“We know there’s still a way to travel before we can start talking about next season.

“In our favour is the fact that our next three fixtures are against rivals in a similar predicament to us.

“So it is important the boys focus their energies on the field, they do that and the results will come.

“And they have been playing well this year, hence my confidence in us holding onto our second-tier status.

“Our gameplan is to be aggressive on defence and deadly on the counter, and we saw it against Eagles.”

Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town All Stars have little more than pride to play for.

Earlier in the season the pair enjoyed time at the summit, but that is history. Stars are in seventh spot while Stellies are at a season-low 10th.

Neither can make a bid for the promotional play-offs, and they have only themselves to blame because they’ve been presented with more than enough opportunities to claim a second and third- placed finish.

These prized positions belong to Black Leopards ( second) and Jomo Cosmos (third).

Both, like top-placed Highlands Park are former PSL teams.

Park have already won the league and will compete in the top-flight next season.

No one will argue that the Lions of the North have been streets ahead of the rest.