UNIVERSITY of Pretoria coach Steve Barker and his counterpart at Thanda Royal Zulu, Neil Tovey, have admitted this could be a pivotal week in the National First Division season as the teams battle it out for the single automatic promotion spot.
AmaTuks and Thanda have no wins in their past four games, while second-placed Blackburn Rovers have won just once in that time, allowing the chasing pack back into the race for top spot.
The Tshwane side lead the table with 43 points from 24 games, with Rovers a point behind. Thanda have some ground to make up in third, on 38 points, but do have a game in hand away at United FC, which will be played tomorrow. And with Thanda set to meet Rovers at the weekend as well, it is make-or-break time for them.
"This is a critical week for us, and if we are to get promoted then we need to win games like these against United and Rovers," Tovey said.
Barker said: "We have had a tough period but the positive is that four of our last six games are at home, including three of our last four, so that is a big plus for us. We would like to have the league wrapped up before the last game of the season, obviously, but if not we have Thanda at home and we will hope to have everything in our own hands by then."
Barker said that having come close to promotion in the past via the play-offs has given his side valuable experience, as has bringing Sammy Troughton on board as the club's assistant coach.
Crunch time in NFD race
UNIVERSITY of Pretoria coach Steve Barker and his counterpart at Thanda Royal Zulu, Neil Tovey, have admitted this could be a pivotal week in the National First Division season as the teams battle it out for the single automatic promotion spot.
AmaTuks and Thanda have no wins in their past four games, while second-placed Blackburn Rovers have won just once in that time, allowing the chasing pack back into the race for top spot.
The Tshwane side lead the table with 43 points from 24 games, with Rovers a point behind. Thanda have some ground to make up in third, on 38 points, but do have a game in hand away at United FC, which will be played tomorrow. And with Thanda set to meet Rovers at the weekend as well, it is make-or-break time for them.
"This is a critical week for us, and if we are to get promoted then we need to win games like these against United and Rovers," Tovey said.
Barker said: "We have had a tough period but the positive is that four of our last six games are at home, including three of our last four, so that is a big plus for us. We would like to have the league wrapped up before the last game of the season, obviously, but if not we have Thanda at home and we will hope to have everything in our own hands by then."
Barker said that having come close to promotion in the past via the play-offs has given his side valuable experience, as has bringing Sammy Troughton on board as the club's assistant coach.
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