Madibaz celebrate second league title
NMU MADIBAZ were crowned the Safa-NMB SAB League champions for the second successive year at the VW People’s Pavilion in Uitenhage on Sunday.
Highland Spurs, however, put a damper on the students’ celebrations when they beat the champions 1-0 in their final match.
Madibaz had already clinched the title following their goalless draw against Ikamva Movers at their South Campus on Friday evening.
They will now advance to the play-offs against the Safa SAB League winners from across the province for a place in the ABC Motsepe League.
Safa-NMB vice-president Andile Funani presented the SAB League cup to Madibaz after their match against Spurs.
“It is an awesome achievement by the players, coaches and support staff,” NMU soccer manager Mark Tommy said.
Closest rivals Major Chiefs fell out of the race when they were held to a goalless draw by Movers after thrashing Hearts 5-2 on Saturday.
With just one match remaining, Chiefs will now battle it out for the runners-up with PE Sundowns and Fairview Rovers.
Sundowns suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of Motherwell Academy. They beat Mabayibone Strikers 3-1 on their second match.
Rovers, who have two matches in hand, beat Roaring Tigers 2-1 and will remain as the favourites to fill second spot.
Meanwhile, the battle for relegation will continue to the very end.
Tailenders Golden Aces lost both their matches, going down 2-1 to Camper United and 2-0 to Motherwell Academy.
With matches in hand they could escape the chop. They are just a point behind Strikers and two behind Young Killers.
In their second match of the weekend, Strikers were thrashed 6-0 by Highland Spurs. Killers were beaten 2-1 by Young Ideas. Results: Amarhamba United 3 Despatch Pioneers 1, Fairview Rovers 2 Roaring Tigers 1, NMU Madibaz 0 Ikamva Movers 0, Golden Aces 1 Camper United 2, Young Killers 1 Young Ideas 2, Major Chiefs 5 Hearts 2, Highlands Spurs 6 Mabayibone Strikers 0, PE Sundowns 1 Motherwell Academy 2, Motherwell Academy 2 Golden Aces 0, FC Winners 1 Camper United 0, Ikamva Movers 0 Major Chiefs 0, PE Sundowns 3 Mabayibone Strikers 1, Highland Spurs 1 NMU Madibaz 0, Morning Stars 1 Roaring Tigers 2.