Mbombela United are eyeing PSL promotion

After succumbing to the relegation/promotional play-offs, Mbombela United have set their sights on gaining straight promotion to the lucrative Absa Premier Soccer League this season.
Tingwenyama lost out to Highlands Park in the play-offs.

Stanley Manana, United team manager, said they have learnt a lot in their maiden season in the NFD. “Having gained promotion from the ABC Motsepe League to the NFD, it was not going to be easy for us to go straight to the PSL. The valuable experience we gained last season will be vital for us this season as we have mandated ourselves with a straight promotion to the PSL,” said Manana.

Last season was United’s first season in the NFD. They, however, surprised many when they performed like seasoned campaigners in the second tier league in the country.
They ended the season perched on position three, a position, which subsequently earned them a spot in the play-offs. They, however, lost out to Highlands Park, who subsequently gained promotion to the PSL.

This season, Manana said, they are aiming to gain an automatic promotion to the PSL. He said, they were, however, expecting a tougher season this year.
“This season is going to be a different ball game altogether. With the relaxing of the age limit rule, more teams will be competitive this season. But our mandate is clear: it is to gain promotion to the PLS come the end of the season,” added Manana.

Clubs in the NFD will this season be required to start with only two u/23 players and have at least two players in that age group on the field at all times.

Since 2009, NFD clubs have had to start with five under-23 players and be eligible to represent South Africa by having SA citizenship. Manana said they are currently assessing over 10 players that they identified during the trials they held recently.

He said they were also on the verge of unveiling two high-profile players. “Despite losing four of our regulars to PSL sides, including our first choice goalkeeper, Thuto Qaba to Royal Eagles, we have retained the bulk of our last season players.

The void he (Qaba) created is huge, but we have already identified his replacement. We will officially announce our new signees in due course,” said Manana.

Other players who left the Mpumalanga-based side are Sinethemba Jantjie (Free State Stars), Phetolo Sekome (Chippa United) and Lebogang Maboe (Maritzburg United).
United will kick-start their NFD 2016/17 season with an away fixture against Santos at Parow Park on August 27
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