Phakaaathi.co.za New boys take NFD by storm
TTM: PROMOTED SIDE FOUR POINTS BEHIND THE LEADERS
Sibongiseni Gumbi
For a new team in the National First Division, Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) have proved to have a knack for a big scalp and have become the dark horses in the race for promotion.
TTM have already nailed to the mast the division’s big boys Highlands Park and Jomo Cosmos and added NFD leaders Stellenbosch to their growing list of victims, beating Steve Barker’s side 1-0 at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
Their coach Sello Chokoe says his team are just pushing to prove that there is no rule which says a new team cannot be promoted.
“We are not giantkillers per se,” the TTM coach told Phakaaathi yesterday. “We’ve played three difficult matches in a row ... we played Witbank Spurs and drew when we should have won. Then it was Black Leopards and we drew again when we should have won and eventually we beat Stellenbosch.
“This shows we have a competent squad that can go all the way. We just need to forget the mentality that we are a new team. We have experienced players here who have been in this division for a long time. Four or five players have played in the Premiership.
“Even those who come from the Motsepe League are equally good and able to compete in this level,” said Chokoe who has guided his team to eighth place and just four points behind leaders Stellenbosch.
“It is more about trying to believe we can go all the way. If we can beat the No 1 team in the league, it means we can beat anyone. There is no rule that a new team cannot be promoted to the top league. If we are capable and good enough to do it, we can. We have to be professional and go for it,” said Chokoe who was famous for donning a white glove on one hand during his time at Baroka FC.
TTM’s next match is against the other new boys, Uthongathi, and Chokoe said the mandate for his team going to KwaZulu-Natal is to bring home the three points.
Ubuntu Cape Town FC have, meanwhile, axed their coach Roger Links and replaced him with technical director Casey Prince.
The team are yet to register a win after eight matches and a 1-0 defeat to Witbank Spurs was the final straw for Ubuntu’s bosses who announced yesterday that Links had been fired.