Usuthu stutter, Amabhubesi on course for PSL return
AmaZulu hit yet another pothole on their road to promotion playoffs as the Durban-based National First Division team suffered a shock defeat to relegation candidates, Milano United on Tuesday afternoon.
Ovidy Karuru of AmaZulu during the National First Division match between Milano United AFC and AmaZulu at Athlone Stadium. (Photo by Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images)
Usuthu however remain within the chasing pack for a promotion play-offs spot although they could be kicked further down the table after Wednesday’s matches.
Joey Antipas’ team have now been stuck in fourth place with 41 points after 27 games. To stand a chance of making the play-offs, they will have to win their last three matches.
A late Yosuf Jappies strike sunk Usuthu on Tuesday. The win was a huge relief for Milano who are now three points ahead of Magesi FC at the bottom end of the NFD standings.
Thanda Royal Zulu could meanwhile guarantee their return to the Absa Premiership after almost ten years in the NFD if they can beat Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday afternoon.
A win will take Amabhubesi’s points tally to 56, a number that no other NFD team can get to even if they win all their remaining matches.
It is a completely different scenario though for the other former Premiership team, Santos who have to win against Jomo Cosmos to have any faint hope of surviving relegation. The People’s Team are currently bottom of the standings with 18 points, seven behind 15th-placed Magesi.
NFD Fixtures:
Wednesday: Thanda Royal Zulu v Stellenbosch FC; Santos v Jomo Cosmos; Royal Eagles v Black Leopards; Mthatha Bucks v University of Pretoria; Real Kings v Witbank Spurs; Mbombela United v FC Cape Town; Magesi FC v Cape Town All Stars
