It's time Bucks got their act together

By Mesuli Zifo

EAST LONDON -- Whether the stigma of promising much and delivering little sticks to Bush Bucks will much depend on their performance against Free State Stars in a Castle Premier League fixture at Charles Mopeli Stadium in QwaQwa on Sunday.

The Eastern Cape side has a tendency of raising people's hopes with impressive victories only to founder when least expected.

After sacking coach Kenny Ndlazi after a winless streak, Imbabala appeared to have regrouped under caretaker and former goalkeeper coach Nigel Dixon when they went into a four-match unbeaten run including scalping top sides like Kaizer Chiefs and title-chasing Santos in their backyards.

But then started dropping points to unfashionable sides like Golden Arrows, Ria Stars and Ajax Cape Town before rebounding with a spirited performance against the mighty Orlando Pirates only to return to slumberland against Sundowns in their last outing.

While the excuse has been the absence of key players for reasons ranging from suspensions to injuries, all regular players were available for the Downs' match, but they could not save the team from a 4-1 humiliation.

Pirates assistant coach Harris Choeu gave a controversial analysis of Bucks after the 2-2 draw.

"Bucks players only raise their game when playing against so-called big teams. If they continue to doing that they are not going anywhere,''Choeu said.

Although Bucks assistant coach Kenneth Ku-bheka slammed Choeu for what he viewed as derogatory remarks, his players need to show much more commitment for their remaining matches beginning with Stars on Sunday.

Touted as a surprise package for this season after a series of impressive pre-season conquests, the Free State outfit has failed to live up to expectations and are languishing mid-table.

With 29 points off 24 matches they are three points better than Bucks with an equal number of games.

Bucks visit to QwaQwa coincides with Clement Mazibuko's timely return from a one-week trial at Russian club Rubin Kazan, which has been training in Greece.

While Bucks were free last weekend, Stars however sawsome action and earned a point in their 0-0 stalemate against Wits University at Charles Mopeli.