Once a famous club known as Umtata Bucks and later Bush Bucks, ‘Imbabala’ twice won the Coca-Cola Cup (the equivalent of today’s Telkom Knockout).
Coached by Trott Moloto and boasting stars such as Brendan Augustine, the Mugeyi twins, John Mbidzo and Vincent Sokhela, the club beat Hellenic in the 1993 Coke Cup Final, and Free State Stars three years later. They were also regular top eight finishers.
But relocation to East London was followed by relegation in 2003, and though they bounced straight back, Imbabala were relegated again in 2006, and went out of business.
A new club was formed in 2007 and has toiled away in the basement leagues ever since.
But now, after winning Group B in the 2015 Safa ABC Motsepe League National Play-offs in Kimberley, the Eastern Cape side are a giant step nearer to their dream of returning to top flight football.
Bucks started the day in third place in their group, on just three points, but a hard-earned 2-1 win over North West Shining Stars clinched top spot as Magesi FC and Hungry Lions cancelled each other out in a 3-3 draw.
Mbombela United defeated African All Stars of Gauteng 3-2 to finish comfortably clear in Group A, three points ahead of Cape side Glendene United in second place.
Mbombela United and Bush Bucks are both promoted, and will meet in the Final on Sunday, with R1-million at stake; the runners-up taking R500 000.