MPUMALANGA Black Aces are not worried about the fact that they will host Carara Kicks in tonight's semifinal second leg of the National First Division playoffs away from home.
MPUMALANGA Black Aces are not worried about the fact that they will host Carara Kicks in tonight's semifinal second leg of the National First Division playoffs away from home.
The match, which was originally scheduled for Ackerville Stadium in Witbank, has been shifted to the LC De Villiers Stadium in Tshwane because of poor lighting at the Witbank venue. Kickoff is at 7.30pm.
"Tshwane is not far from Witbank and our supporters will easily travel to the match in numbers to give the players an extra spur," said Aces spokesperson Thabo Moroape yesterday.
"We are well prepared for them physically and mentally and we are close to gaining promotion to the Premiership. We will not allow Kicks to stand in our way."
His counterpart at Kicks, Basil Mohalane, is equally confident.
"We will dedicate this match to our midfielder Buti Ngulube who is out because of a broken leg. Though we will miss him a lot on Thursday, we have enough in our arsenal to compete with Aces anywhere," said a determined Mohalane.
The talented linkman's leg was broken by a vicious tackle from Aces defender Felix Musasa in the first leg in Welkom on Sunday. The match ended 1-all.
Musasa was sent off after the incident and will be missed by Aces tomorrow.
But coach Sammy Troughton will hope that players like Jacob Machaka, and Lindokuhle Mbatha will deliver.
Kicks coach David Vilakazi will pin his hopes on the likes of Kingston Nkhatha and top scorer Rantso Mokoena.
Thanda Royal Zulu engage the tricky FC Cape Town in another second leg match tomorrow at Vygieskraal Stadium, also at 7.30pm. The two teams fought out to a goalless draw in the first leg in Durban.
The winners from these matches will meet in the two-legged final on June 2 and 6.
The victors will he promoted to the top flight.