Title race heating up

STELLENBOSCH FC are not feeling any pressure from Royal Eagles in the National First Division (NFD).

The race for promotion in the NFD is hotting up, and Stellenbosch dropped points this past weekend when they were held 1-1 by Witbank Spurs at home, while Eagles shot down Real Kings 1-0 in the KwaZulu-Natal derby.

That reduced the gap between themselves and Stellenbosch but coach at Stellenbosch, Steve Barker, is not feeling pressure at the summit.

“n the past two games we’ve picked up four points while Eagles and Mbombela United only managed to pick up three. It is still in our control. We are seven points clear and we have to keep going,” Barker explained.

Stellenbosch have amassed 45 points after 22 games, clear of the second-placed, Eagles who are on 38 points after an identical number of games.

“We created so many chances that we didn’t convert. We have to be clinical and ruthless. We need that ability to kill off teams when we are in control. Against Witbank Spurs, we created numerous chances,” he added.

Stellenbosch will now travel to Durban to lock horns against Real Kings at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont on Sunday at 3.30pm.

Sazi Ngubane of Eagles is adamant that anything can still happen.

“Obviously it is not in our own hands. All we have to do is to fight until the last game. They can slip and we can take advantage. I’m happy with our position and the results this past weekend. We have to show some consistency. We’ve got eight games to go and we should treat them as cup finals,” Ngubane explained.

Eagles will face Jomo Cosmos away from home in their next assignment.

“It won’t be easy against Cosmos. They are trying to run away from the relegation zone and we are pushing for promotion but we’ve done well away this season.” Ngubane stated.