NFD soccer bonanza in Thohoyandou

Local football lovers have every reason to rejoice. Their two local National First Division League teams, Black Leopards and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), will play their league matches at home this weekend.

TTM are eagerly waiting for the arrival of Highlands Park at the Thohoyandou Stadium tomorrow afternoon (Saturday). TTM desperately need the points from the match to keep their hopes to take part in the promotional playoffs alive. TTM dropped three spots down the log, following two successive defeats. They are now lying in the fifth position. On the other hand, Highlands Park will be declared the league champions should they beat TTM tomorrow.

Highlands Park broke the record two weeks ago by going 19 matches without a defeat. TTM will be without their right back, Tshepo Makgoga, who saw red in their home game against Richards Bay FC two weeks ago. Teboho Kalake, Carlington Nyadombo and Mahlatse Mhlabine will be expected to stabilize the defence in the absence of Makgoga. The combination of Pail Nuzhard, Khethowakhe Masuku and Lesedi Kapinga will keep the fire burning in the middle of the park.

TTM beat Highlands Park 2-1 in their first-round league match at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa five months ago.

Black Leopards will entertain Stellenbosch FC at the same venue on Sunday. The spirit is high in the Leopards’ camp after collecting full points away from home two weeks ago when they beat Real Kings 2-1.

Stellenbosch will have a mammoth task to stop the Leopards’ strikers, Mwape Musonda, Karabo Tshepe and Thembisani Nevhulamba.

The other weekend NFD fixtures are: Uthongathi FC vs Super Eagles, Witbank Spurs vs Mthatha Bucks, Richards Bay FC vs Jomo Cosmos, Royal Eagles vs Pretoria University, Mbombela United vs Cape Town All Stars and Ubuntu Cape Town vs Real Kings.

Date:30 March 2018

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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