TUT vows to produce more PSL stars

Cape Town - Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) coach Bushy Moloi is proud of the players he has produced who have made it to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

After winning the mini-league last season, TUT let go of two players: goalkeeper King Ndlovu and midfielder Themba Ndlovu, both of whom are now with Black Leopards.

Themba has already scored his first goal for Lidoda Duvha. He did so in their Absa Premiership match against Highlands Park last month, which resulted in a 2-2 draw.

King is yet to play for the Limpopo team, but was on the bench during their 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.

"We first produced Manti Moholo (now Mekoa) and, later, Elliot Seema, who has played for Polokwane City," he said.

Mekoa has gone on to play for a number of PSL clubs, including Soweto giants the Buccaneers. Other teams he has played for include Free State Stars, Golden Arrows, Chippa United and Maritzburg United. He now plays for Cape Umoya United.

"We have produced the two Ndlovus," said Moloi. "We are doing well, and we hope that this year our goalkeeper, Sikhumbuzo Ncube, can join and play for a PSL team."

Ncube has won a few man of the match awards this season, including one last week for the match against University of Johannesburg (UJ) at the university's Soweto Campus. His team lost 1-0.

"Our keeper can just walk into any PSL team because there is no exposure in the National First Division," added the mentor. "He needs to join a PSL club and fight. He is better than most of the goalkeepers I have seen in the top league."

Moloi is optimistic that more of his players will follow the path taken by the Ndlovus.

"We aim to produce one or two players again this year who will move into the big league," he said.

He said that, if they could reach the final this year, it would serve as proof that positive things were being achieved at TUT.

This week, the team collected a point in their 2-2 draw against University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. The Pretoria side still has a chance to reach the semi-finals as they are currently in position four, with 11 points after six games.

The top four teams at the end of the round robin make it to the semi-finals next Thursday. They will be fighting to be one of the top four teams when they play Wits University at Wits Stadium.

Wits are currently in position two with 13 points, one point behind log leaders UJ, who have 14 points. UJ will take on North-West University at Mafikeng Stadium.