Do-or-die for Limpopo side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in play-offs
Limpopo’s Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC go into the team’s second National First Division (NFD) play-offs fixture against Maritzburg United FC on Wednesday 22 May, with promotion into the paid ranks up for grabs.
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Limpopo’s Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC go into the team’s second National First Division (NFD) play-offs fixture against Maritzburg United FC on Wednesday 22 May, with promotion into the paid ranks up for grabs.
The Limpopo side kicked off its campaign for promotion with a tough away fixture against Royal Eagles FC of KwaZulu-Natal midweek.
Royal Eagles FC and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC ended the league season separated by two points, with the former at number two, and the latter at number three, on the final NFD league log standings.
NFD champions Stellenbosch FC has gained automatic promotion into the paid ranks of the Absa Premiership, bringing to two the number of teams from the Western Cape into the professional ranks, after Ajax Cape Town failed by a whisker to qualify for the play-offs.
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC, which attempts to bring to a total of four the number of Limpopo teams in the Absa Premiership, next Wednesday welcomes Maritzburg United FC.
The other Limpopo teams campaigning in the pro ranks are Baroka FC, Polokwane City FC and Thohoyandou Black Leopards FC.
The KwaZulu-Natal side has the proverbial second bite at the cherry, after ending the Absa Premiership season at number 15, just missing out on automatic relegation into the NFD.
Free State Stars FC was the unlucky one to have dropped from the elite league to the second-tier NFD.
Before the visit to Limpopo, Maritzburg United FC have a home date with Royal Eagles FC on Sunday 19 May.
The two teams meet again on Wednesday 29 May.
The last of the round-robin fixtures is a match-up between Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC, away to Maritzburg United FC, a fixture which should determine which of the three teams rises to the highest level of South African football.
— The BEAT