With four matches left in the Motsepe Foundation Championship (NFD), Polokwane City, Cape Town Spurs, and Casric Stars are tussling for automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership.
The three teams at the top of the second-tier division have collected the same number of points [50].
Rookies Stars were the biggest losers in this weekend’s round of matches. Going into their tie against Cape Town Spurs, they were topping the table, enjoying a three-point lead at the summit.
However, the 2-0 defeat in Cape Town saw them slip to third place. The result also ended their 16-match unbeaten run in the league that stretches back to October.
THREE HORSE RACE
Polokwane City returned to the top, thanks to a superior goal difference after they came from behind to defeat NB La Masia 2-1 on Friday.
The standings in the Motsepe Foundation Championship set up a potentially explosive finish to the season.
Interestingly, all three teams will play two remaining matches at home and two away.
The race will now be decided by the team that collects the most points from the available 12.
All three would want to avoid going to the playoffs, where they face the Premiership team that finishes in 15th place.
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City, relegated during the 2019/20 season following a seven-year stint in the premier division, are doing everything in their power to return to the topflight.
SPURS EQUALLY DETERMINED
Bafana Bafana legend Shaun Bartlett’s Spurs are equally determined. Formerly known as Ajax Cape Town, they got the chop at the end of the 2017/18 season.
This was after they were docked points for fielding an ineligible player.
At the bottom end of the Championship is Black Leopards, who could join Jomo Cosmos in the ABC Motsepe League if they don’t win all their remaining five matches.
Cosmos were axed from the professional ranks in June last year after an unconvincing run of results.