Tag: Santos
ABC Motsepe Streams Face 2 Horse Race
The ABC Motsepe League in the Western Cape comes to an end in the month of April with Stream A ending on the last Saturday of the month and Stream B finishing the 10th of April.
Both streams seem to have their own 2 horse race but are so close that its still hard to call a winner in each of them just yet.
With Stream B coming to an end in the next 2 weeks, frontrunners FN Rangers and Glendene have it all to play for in their last 2 matches.
Current log leaders FN Rangers probably have the toughest of the last matches as compared to Glendene who seem to have an easier run at the finish line although, nothing is guaranteed.
Bradley August’s Glendene host struggling and bottom placed Langebaan this weekend and its hard to see that the team from Saldanha will cause an upset away from home. Glendene’s final match will be played at Rooikrans against a CT FC Hotspurs team that have been recovering from a slow start to the season and haven’t lost a match in 5 games heading into this weekend. The question is, will they have enough to offer resistance to a Glendene team who have only lost 1 match this season so far and has the 2nd best goal difference in the league?
FN Rangers have 2 remaining matches that may cause some tough resistance in the form of Ikapa Sporting and HBUFC.
Coach Ryan Botha’s first season in the 2nd division for HBUFC has yielded satisfying results with 8 wins and 8 draws and zero losses so far and also boasts the best defensive record in the stream, with the least number of goals conceded. Their 1st round match against FN Rangers delivered a 1-1 draw and it promises to be a tight affair with higher stakes this time around.
Before the match against HBUFC, Coach Areshaat Daniels and his FN Rangers team will have to see off Ikapa Sporting who are currently in 7th place on the log and by all accounts the team from Royal Road will back themselves for the 3 points.
Stream A have a few more games to play and the current favourites to take the number 1 spot are Ubuntu FC (1) and Zizwe United (2). Zizwe United are placed 2nd and trail by 1 point but have 2 games in hand over their counterparts.
Ubuntu FC have a tough challenge as they have to face 2 of the current top 5 sides in the form of Santos and Mbekweni Sundowns as part of their last 4 matches.
Zizwe Utd on the other hand remaining matches are against teams from the bottom half of the table, Jomos Power (8), Black Cats (10), Gansbaai City (11), Clarewood JPM (6) and Cape Town Spurs (7).
With more points on offer for Zizwe Utd because of their games in hand, the team from Nyanga should be firm favourites to take the number 1 spot but, this is football and anything is possible.
Santos vow to “Rise to the Occasion” – Nedbank Last 32
The People’s Team departed the mother City on Saturday morning to the Nedbank Round 32 match in Limpopo.
The Santos squad had a light training session after landing in JHB and then travelled to Limpopo by bus. The task ahead is huge for the ABC Motsepe side from Cape Town as their opponents, Marumo Gallants, are plying their trade in the highest league of the country, the PSL.
Santos road to the last 32 saw them defeat fellow 2nd Division sides, Gansbaai City, Police Fc, Royal Blues, Black Cats and HBUFC not forgetting 3rd division log leaders, Hanover Park.
Gallants are coached by Dan Malesela who is well aware of Cape Town football and its players as he is a former head coach of Cape Town All Stars and Malesela has done well since joining Gallants in Nov 2021.
Head coach of Santos, Abduraghman Jacobs, only arrived at Thornton this season but made huge strides in assembling a new squad of players who have become a team unit with depth and character. Not all results have gone their way in the league but a memorable comeback against Clarewood JPM winning 3-2 after being down 2-0, showed their never say die attitude.
The People’s Team squad have a few seasoned campaigners who have a wealth of experience like, Junaid Trouncelle, who is the captain, Suhayl Allie, goalkeeper Stanton Weir, Shiraaj Davids and Charlton April. Although their experience shines through Santos also have the younger players currently on form like, former Cape Umoya player Riyaaz Nell and hard tackling Gershwin Esau.
The Santos camp is positive and eager to impress as they vow that they will rise to the occasion.
Wishing Coach Abduraghman Jacobs, Roger Fortune and their team all the best for Sunday
The match will be televised Live SABC1 and SS202 from The Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Squad :
1.Stanton Weir
2. Sameer Soeker
3. Glenville Africa
4. Junaid Trouncelle
5. Junaid Charles
6. Maurice Finck
7. Lukanya Malgas
8. Fabian Bezuidenhout
9. Jamie Craak
10. Gershwin Esau
11. Shiraaj Davids
12. Peter Wade Fish
13. Ray Marco Wildskut
14. Suhayl Allie
15. Curtly Poole
16. Charlton April
17. Slovo
18. Bulelani Tyimi
19. Riyaaz Nell
20. Matthew Petersen