Hungry Lions must beat Rovers to make their way back up NFD log

Kathu-based Hungry

Lions FC will restart their National First Division campaign this Sunday at Tafel Lager Park when they play their 18th game in the Glad Africa League against Platinum City Rovers.

Hungry Lions last played an official game last year on December 18 against Venda Football Academy FC who clobbered them 1-0 in Thohoyandou.

Quite a climb down

That last result shoved the Northern Cape side out of the top eight bracket of the league standings to position 10. This was quite a climb down as the team had at one time owned the topmost spot on the log.

Hungry Lions spokesperson Denzil Baitumedi said the team had kept busy during the festive break, including being active on the transfer market.

On this latter aspect

Baitumedi was cagey, preferring to say that the detail of their chequebook activity will be revealed at an opportune time.

He said they were cautious about letting too much ‘intelligence’ out on the team's make-up to their opponents.

“Since we went to the break we have brought on new members to the team for strengthening purposes. We brought in new players to help us compete sufficiently for the second half of the season.

“We cannot name them at this point as the team has kept the details under wraps and thus we will not disclose too much to our opponents. We do appreciate how our boys are handling the pressure of playing at this level.

“We will make sure that the fans and the public are kept informed about our activities in the transfer market.”

On Wednesday Hungry Lions played a practice match against the Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley.

“This is pretty much what we were doing during the league break”, said Baitumedi.

The Hungry Lions team management had also used the trip to Kimberley to liaise with the Tafel Lager Stadium management regarding various issues including spectator attendance as well as Covid-19 arrangements and the like.

For their part Platinum City Rovers are registered users of Potchefstroom’s Olien Park Stadium in the North West.

Rovers have one significant signee in Oupa Manyisa, a strong defender who formerly turned out for Orlando Pirates and had a brief spell which was cut short by injury at Mamelodi Sundowns.

Preliminary indications are that Manyisa will be on the bus coming to the Diamond City.

Sunday’s game is scheduled for 3.30pm and a limited number of vaccinated ticket holders will be allowed as spectators.