Latest news with #ThaboNthethe

IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Orbit College and Casric Stars clash in high-stakes PSL promotional playoff
Thabo Nthethe, former Mamelodi Sundowns defender and current assistant coach of Casric Stars, insists the clubs is ready for the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The eagerly awaited PSL promotion/relegation play-offs are set to begin as Orbit College hosts Casric Stars at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday (3pm kick-off). A coveted spot in the Betway Premiership will be at stake when both NFD Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) teams rekindle their rivalry. Despite the extended delay before the mini-tournament gets underway, the intensity and significance remain undiminished. Durban City secured promotion to the top flight, and although their celebrations were put on hold due to an ongoing investigation into the registration of former Marumo Gallants midfielder Saziso Magawana, they were on Tuesday officially crowned and began their top-flight journey. In contrast, Cape Town City face the threat of relegation and will be the third side competing to retain their place in the Premiership after a disappointing campaign that left them 15th on the table. 🚨 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃: 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 🚨 — Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) June 5, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Standing in their way will be the MFC's second-and -third-placed teams, who are eager to deepen their troubles. The first fixture carries significant weight not only for Casric and Orbit but also in shaping momentum for the remainder of the tournament. The Mpumalanga-based outfit's assistant coach, Thabo Nthethe, who has been part of the team since their first season in the first division, spoke enthusiastically ahead of their second shot at top-flight promotion in three seasons. 'I can confidently say that the players are ready,' Nthethe told Independent Newspapers. He also commended the influence of head coach Bucs Mthombeni in preparing the team for the playoffs. 'The appointment of coach Mthombeni has been key. He is one coach who is able to motivate players because sometimes it's not about getting players fit because they already have that, but it's about giving them hope and keeping them motivated, and that is what he has been doing. 'The boys are happy, and they want to do well for the team. Each and every one of them knows that the team wants to get promoted into the Betway Premiership next season, and they are willing to do that.'

IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Thabo Nthethe confident Casric Stars have learned from their playoffs pain
Thabo Nthethe, former Mamelodi Sundowns defender and current assistant coach of Casric Stars, insists the clubs is ready for the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Casric Stars will be hoping it's second time lucky when they launch their quest for a place in the Betway Premiership as they prepare to face Orbit College in the opening fixture of the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs on Wednesday (3pm kick-off). Stars, along with Orbit College and Cape Town City, will battle it out in a tightly contested mini-tournament, with only one spot in the top flight up for grabs at the end of the round-robin series. This marks their second appearance in the play-offs since purchasing the National First Division status of Free State Stars in the 2022/23 season. Following a disappointing showing in their previous attempt, the Mpumalanga-based club will be aiming for a much better outcome this time around. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Assistant coach and former Mamelodi Sundowns defender, Thabo Nthethe, believes this year presents a great opportunity for the team to prove their worth. 'The boys are excited to be a part of the playoffs this season,' Nthethe told Independent Media. 'We are where we are because we want promotion. This is our opportunity to showcase ourselves, and if we win the mini tournament, we'll go through. It's another chance.' Despite a solid campaign, Nthethe feels they could have finished even higher on the log. Casric was also among the clubs directly affected by the recent player registration saga involving Durban City, which delayed the start of the play-offs and created uncertainty over final standings. 'The boys did well this season, but we should've ended the campaign further up the table,' he continued. 'We've been doing our best to keep the players motivated because the league took time to finalize things due to the case. We tried to keep the players active and fresh by giving them off days to recover ahead of the tournament, but now we're ready.'