Beware of ‘Cornered Tigers’, hidden Dragons

Moyahabo Mabeba

LIMPOPO – CALL them “cornered tigers” or whichever way found to describe a desperate team, but Vuka Tigers FC of Mokomene will be a considerable target when they begin their campaign in the South African Football Association’s SAB Regional League in a few weeks time.

The vibrant band from Botlokwa drummed and trumpeted their way to the fourth tier of domestic football in the South African football pyramid with a magnificent display of classical brand of ballgame to destroy their counterparts in the recent regional play-offs on home turf.

Gone were the old fears and bogeys and their poor place. A turnaround that began the minute Gideon Chepape, managing director, picked up the rotting carcass of Botlokwa football.

Together with co-director and medical doctor, Rufus Mohlahlana, he has done a mighty job, but the trick going into this regional campaign is first and foremost fulfilment to match massive public expectation.

“We have been going around searching for the best talent at our disposal. Eventually we have managed to assemble a combative football unit with the best we have in our area. These are the warriors who will represent Molemole Local Municipality with great composure. Everyone in the team knows what is expected from them, and – dare I say – they will not disappoint”, said Chepape.

The team made progress before, but all that was required was tangible results during the play-offs, and under the tutelage of head coach, Kenneth “King” Mokubedi, Tigers indeed achieved this goal with remarkable flourish.

The band’s musical rhythms were probably their best highlights, beating all the local football associations’ teams from the Capricorn District Municipality.

Tigers clobbered Seshego Gunners 2-1, Cameroon 3-2, Youngsters 2-1 and Dragons 4-1, who are respectively representing Polokwane, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Aganang and Blouberg local municipalities.

It seems something within Tigers’ DNA require an extra challenge. Perhaps it has to do with their Pathan warrior-like lineage that runs through the blood of their premier players – but fighting for survival is what usually brings the best out of Mokubedi’s charges.

Their matches were individual skill-driven cameos; rousing affairs, full of drama and incidents concluded by a splendid finale.

Against this backdrop, the onus lies with club management to remind Mokubedi and Co that the cutthroat SAB League is a different ball from the mediocrity they dished out during the festive season at the dusty Korea pitch.

Chepape, acclaimed as one of the last few shining football minds in Botlokwa, conceded at the weekend that the journey they are about to embark on is like traversing through the jungle.

“The boys are about to tackle some of the biggest challenges in their sporting careers. They will need a lot of zeal, vigour and valour. Our intention is the get promotion either in our first or second campaign in this league. Relegation is out of the question,” said a confident Chepape.