TAFIC legend expresses hope despite slump
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday March 17, 2017 16:01
He said the change of guard at the club has begun to impinge on the fluency of the squad and the tough challenge posed by the unrelenting opponents at the top adds salt. He said the whole quagmire is giving the TAFIC faithful sleepless nights.
“These are trying times for us as supporters, it is so nervy we stay on our toes. It’s a do or die moment,” he said. “We were sailing smoothly in the first round, but it is not as comfortable as it was and our opponents are also piling pressure every week.”
Juluka who has spent eight seasons at Matjimenyenga was part of the squad that won the 2002 Coca-Cola championship and he helped TAFIC to a super league promotion in 1995.
He said in the year of their promotion they had to battle from 11 points deficit in the first division to finally finish above the Eastern Sweepers team that had led the log for the better of the campaign.
He said there was an amount of pressure in the players at the time but they stuck closely together and were able to ultimately overturn the deficit and return to the top-flight league. He said although it has not been all rosy at their club lately if they unify then they are on course to the premiership.
“This is a critical moment, we need to put our differences aside and walk with the players to the finish line, we are lucky that we can still scrap results in our worst performances and that gives us a reason to be hopeful.”
The battle is heated in all fronts, clubs at the top of the table are neck to neck and others are skirmishing for survival at the bottom of the log as the league enters the final stretch of the season with five games left.
TAFIC are within three points of Motlakase Power Dynamos on 37 points and the latter 34. Motlakase leapfrogged BR Highlanders to second place following a midweek stalemate with Real Movers. Highlanders and fourth-placed Sua Flamingoes are the other title contenders.
TAFIC face a tricky encounter away at Maun Tigers. Tigers became the first side to hand TAFIC their first defeat in an eight goal thriller that saw them down Matjimenyenga 5-3 in Francistown.
Motlakase will not have it easy either. They are visiting ECCO City Greens who are also eyeing a play-offs spot. ECCO come into this encounter buoyed by a weekend 2-0 away win at Chobe United. Motlakase cruised 4-0 in the first leg of this meeting.
Highlanders who are blowing hot and cold after being held by GNT at home will look to make amends when they lock horns with Real Movers at Pilikwe.
Flamingoes are also in for a tough battle against a rejuvenated TASC. Major David Bright’s Morupule Wanderers face fellow relegation candidates GNT.
Sinking Satmos welcome Chobe United in Selebi-Phikwe. GNT and Chobe United will face of on Sunday to make up for their withstanding fixture that was postponed in the first round.