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By Sibongiseni Gumbi

Football Writer


Desperate times for Masutha at Maccabi

Joel Masutha may find himself having to search for his third job in a year should things not improve at National First Division side Maccabi FC.


Masutha started the season at Black Leopards whom he had helped win promotion to the Absa Premiership the previous season but he was fired after a run of bad results.He surprised everyone when a week later he was hired at Chippa United, but as expected at the Chilli Boys, he didn’t last long.

He had not even got a chance to claim him unemployment benefits when he was hired at Maccabi where Phakaaathi understands he enjoys the full support of the management who feel he has changed things around in terms of how the team plays.

But beautiful football counts for nothing when the results are not forthcoming and with the side placed 11th on the standings, five points above bottom side Real Kings, Masutha may be skating on thin ice.

But he could curry himself favour this afternoon if he can guide Maccabi to a win that will see them move away from danger when they host University of Pretoria at Dobsonville Stadium at 3.30pm.

But the soft-spoken mentor will have to dig deep to earn a win against AmaTuks who are three points above them in 10th place and fresh from a confidence boosting 1-0 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila last weekend.

The other Gauteng base NFD side, Jomo Cosmos are also not safe from relegation as they are in 12th position with 24 points and will need to up their game quite immensely if they are to get something out when they host in-form Royal Eagles at Makhulong Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Ezenkosi are a depleted side and have not been doing well lately with relegation now a serious worry for owner and coach Jomo Sono. Stopping Eagles, who are in the race for promotion will take a big effort.

Eagles are second on the standings and have been doing well lately and with their players already promised fat bonuses should they get the side to the Premiership next season, Ezenkosi are in for a tough afternoon.

Fixtures

(All the games kick off at 3.30pm)

Saturday: Uthongathi v Richars Bay; Witbank Spurs v TS Galaxy; Maccabi v University of Pretoria

Sunday: Real Kings v Stellenbosch; Mbombela United v Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila; Jomo Cosmos v Royal Eagles; Ubuntu Cape Town v Cape Umoya United

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