Mashaba remains hopeful of saving NFD side

Shakes Mashaba may have instilled a sense of self-belief into the players at Witbank Spurs, but results have not been forthcoming and the side remain in a relegation battle in the National First Division.

Mashaba joined Spurs in December and had an immediate impact, winning a number of games including having a good run in the Nedbank Cup. But the side has since gone backwards and, with 21 points, are second from bottom with six games to go.

“Our problem is not that the team is not good,” said Mashaba this week. “It’s just that we are not scoring goals while we are conceding silly goals,” he added.

With the Fifa break, Mashaba will have had two weeks to work on his side’s weaknesses by the time they host Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on March 30.

There will meanwhile be one NFD game taking place this weekend with the rescheduled match between Real Kings and Stellenbosch FC being replayed at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, outside Durban, this afternoon.

The match was called off due to an unplayable pitch a fortnight ago after heavy rains. Kings were 2-1 up at the time.

But with Stellies’ lead now having been cut to just three points, Steve Barker’s side are likely to give the Magic Boys a good run for their money.

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