Baroka FC confident of promotion to NFD

BAROKA FC won the Safa Vodacom League in Limpopo despite having lost most of their players.

Baroka lost the players to Premier League clubs after an extended run in the Nedbank Cup in the 2010-2011 season, when they reached the semifinals.

But the club is confident of prevailing in the play-offs that will take place in Polokwane from July 2 to 8 when all nine provincial winners will vie for two slots in the National First Division.

"It's a major achievement, considering that we had to start from scratch in terms of rebuilding the team," said club owner Khurishi Mphahlele.

"There are only three players from the team of 2011 still with us: Olaleng Shaku, BoyBoy Thomo and Thobani Mncwango."

Among the players who left Baroka FC last season were Katlego Mashego, Msimeci Baloyi (Free State Stars) and Khunadi Nkoana (Chippa United).

Coach Sello Chokoe also left the club to join First Division club Atlie FC, who have since been relegated to the Vodacom League.

Chokoe's former assistant coach, Kgoloko "Screamer" Thobejane, is in charge of the technical staff.

"I have assembled a better team than the one that reached the Nedbank Cup semifinals," said Mphahlele.

"I have no doubt we will be in the First Division next season.

"We are going to the national play-offs more focused, unlike last year when most of my players had already been offered lucrative contracts after our cup success."

Only three other provincial winners have been decided: Sinky Mnisi's Vardos (Gauteng), Maritzburg City (KwaZulu-Natal) and Tornado (Eastern Cape).