TZANEEN – Nkowankowa Continental’s stay in the ABC Motsepe League appears to be drawing to a disappointing close as the team continues to struggle for form.

Continental at the bottom of the table

The side suffered yet another setback on Saturday after losing to Lebash Football Academy FC in a match played at the Senwabarwana Sports Complex.

The defeat marked their eighth match of the season without registering a single victory, a worrying run that has left them rooted at the bottom of the league table.

This situation stands in sharp contrast to the optimism that surrounded the club during their debut in the ABC Motsepe League in the 2024/25 season, when they produced impressive performances and finished in the top five.

That strong showing made Nkowankowa Continental one of the most feared teams in the league, and many football fans expected them to build on that momentum and establish themselves as serious contenders in their second season.

Instead, the opposite has happened.

Relegation fears deepen

As things stand, relegation now looms large, with the odds heavily stacked against them. Their performances have lacked consistency, and their confidence appears to be at an all-time low. With poor results continuing to pile up, the team’s survival has become increasingly unlikely, and the relegation axe now hangs closer than ever over the club.

After completing their first season, there are growing indications that the club’s owner may have lost hope of turning things around, particularly given the financial and structural challenges associated with competing at this level.

One official involved in running the ABC Motsepe League in the Mopani region attributed the struggles of many second-season teams, to player age restrictions, which often force clubs to rebuild their squads every year, with new players.

“Many players in the ABC Motsepe League only play for one season and then leave because they no longer qualify to compete in the next season due to age limits,” the official explained, saying this weakens teams, as owners have to start afresh and recruit new players at the beginning of each season. This is not only costly for team owners, but also makes it difficult to build a stable squad and maintain consistency,” he said.

League leaders tighten title race

Meanwhile, at the top of the table, league leaders Mpheni Home Defenders suffered a rare setback, held to a goalless draw by Baduzah Celtics on Saturday.

The result came as a surprise, especially considering that Baduzah Celtics were languishing near the bottom of the standings just a few weeks ago.

Baduzah Celtics’ recent improvement is credited to the new signings, who have added energy and balance to the squad.

The team has steadily climbed the table and managed to halt what has been the league’s most formidable side this season, settling for a 0–0 draw.

Tzaneen United, on the other hand, who were previously going neck-and-neck with Mpheni before a recent dip in form, bounced back slightly after securing a 1–0 victory against Tshakhuma Tsha Mazivhandila from the Vhembe district.

As things stand in the league, Mpheni Home Defenders lead the standings with 22 points from eight matches, while Tzaneen United trails behind on 16 points from the same number of games, keeping the title race alive as the season progresses.