Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Many people did not give FC AK any chance of playing in the national playoffs during their protracted corruption and bribery case, but the arbritrator's verdict has allowed them to feature in the relegation-promotion event.

Their mission to play in the lucrative Absa Premiership next season begins in earnest at home this afternoon with a date against Maritzburg United in a first-leg confrontation.

This dynamite clash is set for Eldorado Park Stadium, starting at 3pm.

Now the question that their critics and cynics are asking is: will Bahumi translate their boardroom success onto the pitch and win the playoffs? The team's officials believe so, and not without justfication.

They have a horde of seasoned campaigners in their arsenal such as Charles Yohane, Lucky Maselesele, Alois Bunjira, Boitumelo Moleyane and Elasto Kapowezha.

These players were good enough to help Bahumi to finish in the driver's seat in the National First Division inland stream log.

But the Durbanites also have a bunch of players with Premiership experience, including Collen Zimba, Fadlu Davids, Peter Petersen, Lynch Pule and Justice Sithole.

FC AK coach Ali Akan said: "United are a very good team and we will need to pull all the strings against them. We should beat them here at home because it will not be easy in Durban [in the second leg at Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday]."

Quinton Jattoo, United's manager, said they were underdogs going to Eldorado Park.