Vasco have two good reasons to bag win

VASCO DA GAMA approach this afternoon’s National First Division (NFD) derby against Parow neighbours FC Cape Town at the NNK Rugby Stadium (kick-off 3pm) with two objectives at the forefront of their focus.

The first priority is to secure victory in order to keep alive their faint hopes of a place in the promotion playoffs. And they will also see a win over FC Cape Town today as a confidence booster for next week’s crucial Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.

Currently, Vasco are ninth on the NFD standings on 29 points. Ahead of them are log leaders Golden Arrows ( 44 points), Thanda Royal Zulu (41), Jomo Cosmos (39), Cape Town All Stars (37), Milano United ( 35), Black Leopards (34), FC Cape Town (32) and Royal Eagles (32).

The lower tier league, though, is very unpredictable – and all it requires is for a team to go on a short winning run and it is capable of surging up the log. With Vasco still in with a mathematical chance of securing a play-off spot, they aren’t giving up hope as yet.

It’s a fading hope, but as long as it’s still there, they’ll soldier on.

The champions of the NFD are automatically promoted to the Premier Soccer League (PSL), while the teams finishing second and third join the second-last side in the top-flight in a three-way play-off. The winner of this mini-league is then promoted to the PSL.

Vasco have a fantastic squad, with some talented emerging young stars like Sam Julius and Stanley Muishond, but they have let themselves down this season by not being able to finish off games they should have won comfortably.

And, no doubt, they’re in for a difficult afternoon against FC Cape Town – Cape derbies are not for the faint-hearted and Vasco will certainly be motivated for this one.

Durban- based Arrows, though, are in resolute mood this season. After being relegated from the PSL last year, they are determined to bounce right back. Capetonian Shaun Bartlett, the former Bafana Bafana striker, is the head coach and he has a put together a young squad that is the envy of the NFD.

Assistant-coach Bheka Phakathi spoke of the effective team he and Bartlett have forged at Arrows. “Shaun and I have struck a very good balance,” said Phakathi. “He was a striker, and adds value to our attacking department, while I was more of a defensive player and can impart my knowledge in that regard.

“We understand each other and work very well together. There is no boss, we listen to each other, respect each other’s opinions, and this also rubs off on the players when they can see the synergy we have.” NFD fixtures Today: Black Leopards v Royal Eagles; Witbank Spurs v Golden Arrows; FC Cape Town v Vasco Da Gama (NNK Rugby Stadium, 3pm); African Warriors v Baroka FC; Milano United v Maluti FET College (Athlone, 3pm); Highlands Park v Thanda Royal Zulu Tomorrow: Jomo Cosmos v Garankuwa United