Notwane gears for crucial final lap
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday March 30, 2024 12:17
Toronto inched away from the relegation positions with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 2-1 win over Extension Gunners. The team moved to the 10th spot and two points away from the drop with five games to play. The First Division South action will pause for the Easter weekend. When the action returns, Notwane face a testing tie against former Premier League side, Mochudi Centre Chiefs away. The team will proceed to host Prisons XI before they travel to Gabane where a much-improved Uniao Flamengo Santos lie in wait.
In the last two fixtures of the season, Notwane will be home to bottom-placed Desert Nxau before concluding with an away fixture at Black Forest. Tebele said they would need his players to be mentally sharp and not give up until the final whistle regardless of the outcome of recent results. "It is not an easy task hence why I say psychologically we have to prepare these players so that they actually understand that. In terms of the physical expenses we want from them at the time, their minds should not give up whatever the results that may come in the next game. We will still have three or four more games to play and we still have to fight until the end," said Tebele.
He further said the Gunners' win was a much-needed morale boost as they enter the final stretch. Tebele acknowledges there is unavoidable pressure to save the team from the drop. "All the games that come, all the boys will have to fight with the energy they displayed (against Gunners). We have to get out of the red flag that we are in. We know Notwane has to get out of this and not go down. If we can get position eight or nine," said Tebele.
The tactician's appointment was the third technical change in the team. Tebele has worked with Omphemetse 'Fowler' Setswe and Thaloba Nthaga. The team was expected to challenge for promotion but found itself on the other end of the table. It will take two defeats to send Desert Nxau to the regional league while Mogoditshane Fighters have dropped to the relegation position of number 11. At the top, Young Stars need three wins from the remaining five to gain promotion to the Premier League. City Polar and Santos are level on 30 points and vying for the playoff spot with Chiefs five points behind the two.