Baroka back on top of the NFD

Baroka Football Club has reclaimed their first position in the First National Division (NFD) with a decisive 2-1 victory over Royal Eagles at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday. This barely a week after succumbing the coveted position to Highlands Park.
Baroka’s inform defender Mathari Mothupa scored his team’s two goals in the second half of the match to give his team a 53 point lead after 26 matches.
Baroka Head Coach, Kgokolo Thobejane said he was happy with the team’s victory and that they are now looking forward to continue their current performance in the league. “I said last week that Highlands Park‘s position at the top was temporary. That is our position and we are happy to reclaim it. We made a promise to the people of this province that we will gain automatic promotion to the Premier Soccer League and we can’t let them down,” Thobejane said.
The Ga Mphahlele based squad will be hoping for maximum points while the host third placed Witbank Spurs at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. Baroka has never beaten Spurs since entering the NFD. Last year Spurs thrashed them 3-1 at Puma Rugby Stadium in Mpumalanga.
“They beat us last year and that was not a good result. We have put the defeat behind us and we are looking forward to the match. We acknowledge the fact that they are a strong team with lots of hard running players and we are not surprised that they are in third position of the league.
“We have to win this match and add more points in our tally so that we can get an automatic promotion to the elite league,” Team Technical Director Oupa Kgoadi emphasised.

Photo: Herbert Rachuene – Mathari Mothupa (left) scored both his team’s goals against Royal Eagles at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday. With him is Polokwane City Football Club striker Puleng Tlolane during their Nedbank Cup match.

Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za