Baroka FC join PSL top-flight

1-1 draw with Milano earns giant-killers promotion, NFD title

YOU have seen them terrorising top-flight teams in the Nedbank Cup, now Baroka FC will have a chance to do that week in and out next season after winning the National First Division (NFD) trophy – and automatic promotion to the Absa Premiership yesterday.

Striker Thabiso Kutumela said goodbye to Baroka’s supporters in spectacular fashion, scoring 20 minutes from time to secure a 1-1 draw against Cape club Milano United and, in so doing, gaining immediate promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) by winning the NFD title outright.

Kutumela, who is set to join Orlando Pirates next season, had his penalty saved in the 40th minute by Milano goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt, but he redeemed himself with a finish some Bucs supporters would have been happy with, as they look forward to having a promising striker join up with their team.

It was Kutumela’s 18th goal of the season, which sparked huge celebrations at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba stadium, after they had gone down to a Mzwanele Mahashe goal in the first half.

There’s one thing about Baroka and their coach, Kgoloko Thobejane, that one needs to understand – they never panic.

Therefore, after going a goal down, they kept pushing forward, until Kutumela found a chink in the Milano armour.

Thobejane, a man who usually wears a tracksuit on the touchline, had on a suit this time around and was the picture of calm throughout, as Baroka needed just a draw to realise their dream of playing in the big league with the big boys.

And they achieved the result they had once only dreamed of, on the finest day in their short history.

What’s been impressive about Baroka this season was their fearless approach, even when they were playing away from home.

They matched their pre-match talk in the media with results on the pitch, with Thobejane often saying they would cruise past anyone they came up against.

This might seem to some an arrogant approach by the coach, but it was down to the confidence he instilled in the team – and has worked for them the entire season.

Baroka’s rise to the elite of South African football is nothing short of amazing – and meteoric.

The players can probably look forward to a great party – and bonuses – from chairman Khurishi Mphahlele, who has dreamt of this achievement since the day he started the team in 2007.

Now the people of Ga-Mphahlele, a village where Baroka hails from, can walk around proudly knowing that they have a club in the PSL.

But the team will have to work tirelessly to plan for the new season, to avoid the possibility of having to return to the NFD after just one season in the PSL.