Explosive fare to spice up the league playoffs menu

IT IS all systems go for the SAB provincial playoffs kicking off at the University of Fort Hare in Alice tomorrow.

This as the SA Football Association (Safa) resolved two disputes in the O R Tambo and Joe Gqabi regions respectively.

The O R Tambo region will be represented by AC Milan, while Junior Chiefs will be representing the Joe Gqabi region.

Yesterday, Safa provincial secretary Isaac Klaas said all the teams taking part in the playoffs had been confirmed.

“O R Tambo and Joe Gqabi had protest cases that are now resolved and they now have winners,” he said.

“The report I received on Friday June 9 from the local organising committee [LOC] of Safa-Amathole as the hosts of the SAB League provincial playoffs is that, it’s all systems go, and they are more than ready.

“In terms of the checklists to host the playoffs, they were on 99% to 100% sure that all is ready for the events,” he said.

The teams have been split into two groups, with group winners gaining automatic qualification to the second tier league next season.

NMMU Madibaz will get the two-day tournament under way tomorrow at noon on field A against AC Milan.

In the other Group A clash, Alfred Nzo champions will lock horns with Buffalo City Metro representatives Birmingham City at the same time on field B.

Joe Gqabi champions, Junior Chiefs will then take to the field at 2pm to tussle with Manchester United of Sarah Baartman, while Try Again and Amavarara will complete the day’s action with a 2pm game on field B.

Then an action-packed Saturday will see eight games being played from 9am, with the last games kicking off at 3pm.

The winners of Group A and Group B will replace relegated Morning Stars and Young Ideas in the ABC Motsepe League.

Klaas said the playoffs were expected to go down to the wire.

“Without undermining any group, I think both groups are groups of death because those teams are regional champions. They beat the best in their regions to reach this stage. They carry the hopes of their regions. May the best two teams win,” he said.