Final-day jitters at top and bottom of NFD
Sunday will see the culmination of the National First Division (NFD) regular season‚ with much to be decided at both ends of the table.
The only thing we know going into the last round is that Witbank Spurs will be relegated as the bottom side‚ ending 15 years in the domestic second tier‚ during which time they came close to promotion on a few occasions.
But as for who will join the team in the ABC Motsepe League next season‚ and who will be granted automatic promotion‚ those two questions still need to be answered.
Stellenbosch FC have led the division almost from the start this season‚ but a wobble in the final third of the campaign has seen their once commanding lead cut to two points.
They will host mid-table Maccabi FC‚ where victory will ensure they take top spot and claim a first promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL)‚ another feather in the cap for coach Steve Barker, who has coached Black Aces, AmaZulu and University of Pretoria.
A draw will leave them vulnerable to being overtaken by second-placed Royal Eagles on goal difference.
Eagles need a win‚ and a handsome one at that‚ as they travel to second-bottom Ubuntu Cape Town.
Stellenbosch currently have a +24 goal difference and Eagles have +21‚ meaning a draw for the former and a victory by three clear goals for the latter would leave them level. It would then come down to goals scored‚ of which Stellenbosch have 45 and Eagles 42.
So a 0-0 draw for the Cape Winelands side and a 3-0 victory for Eagles would leave the teams with exactly the same records in terms of points‚ goal difference and goals scored.
That would leave them needing to be separated via their head-to-head record‚ which would see Stellenbosch on top after they won both league meetings this season.
What is clear is that both sides are assured of a place in the promotion-relegation playoff places should they not finish at the top.
The second playoff spot is still very much up for grabs and remains a complicated situation.
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhadila (TTM) currently occupy that space‚ level on points with Ajax Cape Town‚ but ahead on goal difference. It is marginal though, with TTM on +11 and Ajax on +10.
But complicating the situation is the fact that the PSL has appealed against the verdict of its own disciplinary committee that essentially gave TTM a slap on the wrist for not fielding the required number of under-23 players in a recent victory over TS Sporting.
It seems the PSL wants a harsher sanction‚ most likely a points reduction‚ which could change the scenario drastically. The matter is before an arbiter.
On the pitch‚ TTM host midtable Richards Bay‚ while Ajax travel to Mbombela United‚ who sit in fifth but also have nothing to play for on the final day.
The second relegation place is also still far from decided, with four clubs still in danger of going down.
Cape Umoya United (34 points‚ -8 goal difference) need just a point from their clash away at safe University of Pretoria. Real Kings (33‚ -4) are at mid-table TS Sporting‚ while Jomo Cosmos (32‚ -6) travel to already relegated Spurs.
Most in need of a victory are Ubuntu Cape Town (31‚ -8)‚ who will hope to give themselves the best chance of staying up with a win over Eagles‚ but also do their provincial rivals Stellenbosch a huge favour.