GladAfrica Championship title race remains tense

by Staff Reporter

Friday Apr 29, 2022. 11:31

Just two points separate Richards Bay and University of Pretoria in the race for the GladAfrica Championship title, while TS Sporting could relegate Jomo Cosmos this weekend.

League leaders Richards Bay will target a third win on the spin when they welcome Uthongathi to the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Friday.

The Natal Rich Boyz beat Hungry LIons 2-1 last weekend to go two points clear at the top of the standings, while the ninth-placed Cane Cutters were held to a goalless draw by Cape Town Spurs which extended their winless streak to three outings.

In the other game taking place on Friday, seventh plays eighth as Platinum City Rovers host Free State Stars at Olen Park, with the two teams separated by just one point in the table.

Meanwhile, University of Pretoria will look to get their title challenge back on track when Venda Football Academy visit the Tuks Stadium on Saturday.

AmaTuks (47) relinquished the lead to Richards Bay following back-to-back 1-1 draws against Cape Town All Stars and JDR Stars, while VFA saw a four-match unbeaten run come to an end with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to strugglers TS Sporting.

Abantu Bemthetho will attempt to drive the final nail into Jomo Cosmos’ coffin when they meet in a bottom-of-the-table clash at the Tsakane Stadium.

Ezenkosi are eight points adrift of safety at the foot of the table with just nine points left to play for and anything but victory against Sporting will confirm their relegation. The Mpumalanga outfit have opened up a six-point gap to Cosmos in 15th place following back-to-back wins to close within two points of Pretoria Callies, who take on Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Elsewhere, Black Leopards will be eyeing a sixth straight victory when they face Cape Town Spurs at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday.

Lidoda Duvha are the in-form team in the division at the moment after a 1-0 win over Free State Stars stretched their unbeaten streak to seven matches and took them five points clear of the relegation zone in 10th position. The Urban Warriors are just a point behind Leopards in 12th spot after going through the month of April undefeated.

Sunday also sees JDR Stars travel to Hungry Lions as they look to get back to winning ways after four successive draws dented their bid for promotion. The fourth-placed Hammer Boys (42) trail Cape Town All Stars by two points in race for the promotion play-offs, with Igugu Lekapa only in action on Tuesday against TTM.

GladAfrica Championship fixtures:

Friday, April 29

15h00: Platinum City Rovers v Free State Stars

15h00: Richards Bay v Uthongathi

Saturday, April 30

15h00: Jomo Cosmos v TS Sporting

15h00: Polokwane City v Pretoria Callies

15h00: University of Pretoria v Venda Football Academy

Sunday, May 1

15h00: Black Leopards v Cape Town Spurs

15h00: Hungry Lions v JDR Stars

Tuesday, May 3

15h00: Cape Town All Stars v TTM