South African Football Association (Safa) President Danny Jordaan, Premier Stan Mathabatha and MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Nandi Ndalane have congratulated Baroka Football Club for winning promotion into the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The Ga-Mphahlele based team earned their status to the elite league after playing to a 1-1 draw with Milano Football Club in the their last match of the 2015/16 National First Division season at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Baroka now joins Polokwane City Football as the only two Limpopo teams in the PSL.
“This is a fantastic achievement by Baroka. Not long ago, they were plying their trade in the ABC Motsepe league and theirs has been more like a fairy tale. But it all boils down to hard work, commitment and the will to achieve things that led them to where they are today,” Jordaan is quoted to have said in a media statement.
“As Safa, we would like to take this opportunity to wish them well in the Premier Soccer League and I believe with the brand of football they are playing, they will bring in some added impetus in the PSL,” the statement read.
Mathabatha said the province is ecstatic to have two teams in the prestigious league after years of a dry spell.
He once again urged business and local people to give their all in supporting the two teams. “We don’t want a situation where Baroka will find it necessary to have their home ground somewhere in Gauteng when we have play ground of international standards here at home,” Mathabatha said.
He encouraged Black Leopards, who finished in eighth position of the NFD, to work hard to go back into the PSL. “To have three teams in the league will be the best thing for the province,”
Ndalane heaped praise on Baroka especially the management, technical officials and the ever confident coach Kgoloko Thobejane. “A ton of accolades for the chairman of the club, Khurishi Mphahlele, who has a history of not only unearthing talented players but coaches who can stand their ground and not lose against the goliaths of football. You mention the likes of Sello Chokoe, but without flaunting, we have always maintained that Limpopo is the mecca of football and it will so remain for years to come. Having two clubs in the PSL was long overdue,” Ndalane said.
Featured Photo: Herbert Rachuene – Baroka Football Club players in celebration after being crowned the 2015/2016 champions of the NFD season.
Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za
