North-West University set sights on MFC survival after promotion

North-West University coach Nkululeko Malgas says the club’s priority in their first Motsepe Foundation Championship campaign is to avoid relegation and establish themselves in South Africa’s second tier.

NWU secured promotion by winning the national ABC Motsepe League playoffs, but are still adapting to the demands of professional football at this level.

The newly promoted side have collected three points from their opening five matches and sit 13th in the table. They are two points above bottom club Venda, but have yet to win a match.

“We want to consolidate our status. It’s not going to be an easy thing … as much as we want to do that there will be opportunities as well,” Malgas stated.

“More than anything, let’s consolidate our status on the log, but the position doesn’t favour us because you can’t have Venda behind you, they have experience of going up. So, we need to move from where we are currently sitting.”

NWU have the opportunity to claim their first victory when they travel to face Leicesterford at Mafori Mphahlele Stadium on Saturday.

Malgas believes his previous experience in the division can help the squad deal with the demands of their debut season. He spent six years as an assistant coach at University of Pretoria during their time in the MFC.

“I spent six years at this division with AmaTuks as an assistant coach, so I said to the players … as much as you don’t have experience for this level, use my experience, let me rub it on you,” he said.

“So, this has helped more than anything because you could pick it up in the first two matches that there was a stage shock.”

Cape Town City will seek to extend their unbeaten run when they visit Gomora United at Malamulele Stadium on Friday at 3pm.

The Citizens have not lost in their past five matches and are third in the standings with 11 points from six games. They trail leaders Magesi by three points.

The remaining fixtures, all listed for 3.30pm, include Highbury against Lerumo at Nelson Mandela University on Friday.

On Saturday, Leicesterford host North-West at Mafori Mphahlele, while Venda face Magesi in Thohoyandou. Bees meet Real Native at KaNyamazane, Upington play Orbit at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs, and Pretoria University take on Hungry Lions at Tuks.