The three-way promotional dogfight for a single spot in the prestigious Absa Premiership will kick-off on 25 May at Kanyamazane Stadium in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
The Premier Soccer League has confirmed the teams, dates and venues for the playoffs following the close of the 2015/16 season of the Absa Premiership and National First Division (NFD). The playoffs will be played using a log format with the winner gaining promotion.
Mbombela United, who finished third in the NFD, will welcome fellow NFD campaigners Highlands Park, who finished the season in second spot behind winners of the league, Baroka FC who gained automatic promotion to the Absa Premiership. Kick-off is set for 3pm.
The two NFD teams are joined by Absa Premiership team, University of Pretoria, better known as Tuks, who finished in 15th position. Last in the premiership was Jomo Cosmos who were automatically relegated to the NFD after just one season in top flight football.
The second fixture of the playoffs will see Tuks take on Mbombela United on 29 May at the Tuks Stadium in Tshwane, Gauteng, with kick-off set for 3pm.
Highlands will then entertain Tuks at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa on 11 June with kick-off set for 3pm. Four days later, The Lions of the North, as Highlands is affectionately known, will once again play at home against Mbombela United with the match scheduled for 7.30pm.
June 18 will see Mbombela United at home to Tuks at Kanyamazane Stadium in the penultimate match of the playoffs. Kick-off will be at 3pm.
The final fixture will take place at the Tuks Stadium on 22 June at 7.30pm when Tuks take on Highlands. If two teams are locked on the same number of points with the same goal difference at the top of the log, they will play each other and if there is still no result, the game will go to penalties.
Full Fixtures:
25 May
Mbombela United vs Highlands Park – Kanyamazane Stadium (3pm)
29 May
University of Pretoria vs Mbombela United – Tuks Stadium (3pm)
11 June
Highlands Park vs University of Pretoria – Makhulong Stadium (3pm)
15 June
Highlands Park vs Mbombela United – Makhulong Stadium (7.30pm)
18 June
Mbombela United vs University of Pretoria – Kanyamazane Stadium (3pm)
22 June
University of Pretoria vs Highlands Park – Tuks Stadium (7.30pm).
