SITHEMBISO MKHIZE
IMENENJA yoThongathi, uMakhosonke Mhlongo, ichaza ngesizathu esidale ukuthi iqembu lehle ngesivinini kwi-log yeGladAfrica Championship.
Ngesikhathi kuqala isizini ka-2020/21, leli qembu eliqeqeshwa, uPitso Dladla ngokubambisana noPapi Zothwane, belingelinye lamaqembu abephezulu kwi-log.
Kubuye ithemba lokuthi hleze lizokwazi ukulungisa iphutha elenzeka ngesizini edlule, liyeka ngemizuzu yokugcina ithuba lokunyukela kwiDStv Premiership.
Namuhla uThongathi luzodlala nePretoria Callies eLucas Moripe Stadium ngo-3.30 ntambama. Sekuphele imidlalo emithathu lihluleka ukuqoqa amaphuzu agcwele. Leli qembu selehlele endaweni ka-10 ngamaphuzu awu-23 kwi-log.
UMhlongo uthe amaphaphu phansi kubalandeli bamaCane Cutters, akonakele, abakalilahli ithemba lokunyukela esigabeni esingenhla.
Uqhube wathi kumele bakhumbule abalandeli ukuthi Uthongathi lufana neqembu elisha.
"Iqembu lethu lidlala ngeningi lababafana abebedlala kwi-ABC Motsepe League. Asibanikezeni isikhathi, basajwayela ukudlala kwisigaba esikuso. Kasizisoli nakancane ngokubasayinisa, bababa njengopelepele. Maduze bazolibuyisela phezulu iqembu. Esizigqaja ngakho wukuba nekhono lokukhiqiza abadlali bezinga eliphezulu. Bheka nje ukuthi esibadayisile ngaphambi kokuqala kwale sizini benza imilingo enjani lapho bedlala khona," kubeka uMhlongo.
Laba badlali athi benza izimanga uCelimpilo "Zidane" Ngema odlala kwiTshakhuma, Pule Mmodi owenza izimanga kwiLamontville Golden Arrows, Siphamandla Mtolo owukaputeni kwiRichards Bay noMenzi Ndwandwe osedlala kwiBloemfontein Celtic.
Kubadlali abadala abasele kuThongathi, uPhilane "Maoti" Shange ongukaputeni, Issa Sarr, Xolani Silawulano noSaziso Magawana.
"Uma ubheka i-log kasishiyene ngamaphuzu amaningi namaqembu aphezulu. Sidinga ukunqoba imidlalo emibili noma emithathu bese sibuyela phezulu. Abasibekezele abalandeli bethu, kuzolunga. Ngiyaphinda, laba bafana esinabo badlala ibhola elihle benjalo bayayilandela nemiyalelo yabaqeqeshi,” kuqhuba uMhlongo.
Esicongweni se-log kuhleli iRichards Bay FC ngamaphuzu awu-32, ilandelwa yiSekhukhune enamaphuzu awu-31. Endaweni yesithathu kukhona iRoyal Am nayo ngamaphuzu awu-31. Iqembu elizoqeda esicongweni lizongena kwiDStv Premiership. Elisendaweni yesibili neyesithathu kwiGladAfrica adlala kweyokuhlunga nelizoqeda kunombolo-15 kwiDStv Premiership.
Imidlalo yeGladAfrica Championship:
Namuhla - Ngo-3.30pm: Pretoria Callies v Uthongathi (Lucas Moripe Stadium)
NgoMgqibelo: Ngo-3pm: Polokwane City v Steenburg United (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium); Cape Umoya v Richards Bay (Parow Park); University of Pretoria v Free State Stars (ABSA Tuks); Pretoria Callies v Jomo Cosmos (Lucas Moripe Stadium); Sekhukhune United v Cape Town All Stars (Makhulong Stadium).
NgeSonto: Ngo-3pm: Cape Town Spurs v Uthongathi (Parow Park); Royal AM v JDR Stars (Chatsworth Stadium); TS Sporting v Bizana Pondo Chiefs (Kabokweni Stadium).