Alex United one game away to win ABC Motsepe League
ALEXANDRA - Alex United are a game away from winning the ABC Motsepe League and then possibly heading for play-offs before being promoted to the National First Division (NFD).
Alex United is a game away from winning the ABC Motsepe League and then possibly heading for playoffs before being promoted to the National First Division (NFD).
United, popularly known in Gomora (Alex), as the Hope City Giants, still has to beat African All Stars in a top of the table clash in order to seal the league, though this does not give them automatic promotion.
After winning the league, Hope City Giants will place all their hopes in emerging victorious in the promotional playoffs and only then can they pop the champagne in celebration of a milestone.
They will have made history by becoming the first team in Alexandra to qualify for the NFD, which is a precursor to the lucrative Premier Soccer League. For all this to become reality, United still have to face a similar predicament as in the previous season in which Alex U, as they are also known in the township by their avid fans, were pipped to the promotional playoffs spot by Highlands Park.
Like Stars in this season, United and Highlands Park were separated by a point and the latter went on to win the last game of the season and took the league. They then headed for the playoffs and later qualified for NFD.
United and Stars were due to play their final league game on 30 May, but it was postponed to 6 June at the home away from home venue of United, Balfour Park Stadium. United are supposed to play their home games at the Alexandra Stadium but it is currently being renovated.
“We’re not leaving anything to chance with this big clash,” said United head coach Tracy Pepper.
“We’re having a closed training session this time around and none of our players is available to talk to the media. We want them to strictly focus on this game to avoid a repeat of last season.”
United has been in scintillating form this season as they recently demolished bottom of the league team, the University of the North West Vaal campus side 8-1 after previously thumping second from the bottom of the league side FC Kathorus 6-2.
United go into this game with a full strength team with no injuries, and Pepper said her side was going for an all-out win “as we have prepared well for it”. United need only a draw from this game to wrap up the league, but Pepper said their pride was at stake here and they will be gunning for maximum points.
