24 April 2019 – Vhembe SAB League Stream A defending champions United Artists are easing their way to their sixth league title in 7 years. Artists are 20 points ahead of SMSA and their head coach Neville Manamela wants his charges to reach triple figures again in the title race.
Manamela does not want Artists to ease up in the face of SMSA’s recent wobble and has urged his players to break the 100-point barrier again in order to retain the Stream A title.
Artists took another stride towards retaining the Stream A title on Sunday when goals from Andani Nemalili, Emanuel Neswiswi, Robert Baloyi and Khathutshelo Mashavhathakha helped them see off Salema All Stars 4-1 with yet another stylish performance, emphasising their superiority in Stream A once again.
Artists lead SMSA by 20 points heading into their weekend game away to Altein Reformed Squad on Sunday, 28 April.
Manamela’s men have made life difficult for SMSA, who followed a disappointing goalless draw against Tshisima Professionals with a 3-0 defeat at Shigamani FC on Sunday, 21 April.
“We’re top of Stream A with 76 points, but we’ve not won the league yet and we need to keep working towards our targets,” he told SAFA.net after the Sunday game. SMSA currently have 56 points and have the chance to reach 86 points by the end of the season. That means we need to be aiming above the 100-point mark. If we end up needing less then so be it, but we can’t be resting on our laurels” said the coach.
“In every match against Altein, they make us work very hard. They’re a physically tough team, but also technically skilled. We have to be on top of our game technically, tactically and physically in order to make the points ours.”
The Lufule 2-based giants United Artists once broke the 100-point barrier in the 2014/2015 season under the guidance of the current Madritas Head Coach Fhumulani Tshisikule when they collected a total of 108 points.