New Thanda Royal Zulu coach Neil Tovey hopes to guide his side to the Absa Premiership at the first time of asking after being unveiled by the club on Wednesday.

After being introduced to the club and their fans, Tovey explained his aims for the 2011/12 National First Division season.

He said: "I know what is expected of me and I will do my best to make sure that we get promotion.

"It will be tough considering that there will now be a single (NFD) stream, but we will do our best."

The club revealed that due to the disappointment of missing out on promotion this past season, a change of direction was needed, hence the appointment of the former AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns boss.

A statement on the club's official website read: 'Disappointed to have narrowly missed the finals of the play-offs for promotion back into the Premier Soccer League where the club was two season ago, a decision was taken to bring Neil Tovey in with the express goal of building on the successes of the past season in order to refocus on getting the club promoted and to continue improving the club's performance to remain competitive in the Premier Division of the PSL

'Tovey brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience having captained and coached some of the most accomplished soccer teams in South Africa. He helped AmaZulu reach the fourth spot in the PSL last season as well as the finals of the Nedbank Cup. Tovey won the PSL title in the 2006 season for Mamelodi Sundowns, and coach for the under-20 squad.

'Coincidentally his homecoming is particularly significant in that he played an instrumental role in coaching Hellenic, now Thanda Royal Zulu FC, when he rescued the then Cape Town based Club from the bottom of the Castle Premiership Log.'

Meanwhile, a number of South African-based footballers could find themselves out in the cold as a new National First Division rule begins to come into effect.

The Premier Soccer League ruling states that all NFD clubs must field at least five South African-born U-23 players in a match from next season.

While this is on the face of it a very positive step in terms of developing locally born players, it also has the potential to see a number of 'over-age', local and foreign players discarded as their clubs act in accordance with the law.

Limpopo side Dynamos Football Club have already released eight of their squad including Sandile "AK 47" Ndlovu, Ronny Mabunda, Bafana Tshabalala, Siyabulela Witbooi, Allan Kamanga, Innocent Mnisi, Charles Kalayire and defender Kaizer Montsi.

Club spokesperson Joe "Going Up" Mbiza confirmed the developments to the Sowetan: "It will be difficult to renew the players' contracts because we want to make way for the youngsters to be in line with the PSL's new rule."

On the positive side, however, is the obvious fact that young South Africans will be given a greater chance to break through in their hometowns as general manager Richard Makhoba explained.

"We have already identified 17 U-23 players in Kronstad and we will hold trials in Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberly on Sunday at 9am to assess them further."