NFD battle for precious points

Sibongiseni Gumbi

Today’s Limpopo derby is an extra spicy dish served on a hot Thohoyandou afternoon with National First Division (NFD) campaigners Black Leopards and Magesi FC both desperate for full points.

Lidoda Duvha are close to finishing in the promotion play-offs and can ill afford to drop any points with just three games to go.

Jean-Pierre Luscuito’s team are second on 44 points, 12 behind champions Thanda Royal Zulu and one ahead of Stellenbosch. Two wins should be enough for Lidoda Duvha to guarantee themselves a place in the play-offs.

But they will have to fight hard to beat a desperate Magesi side whose NFD status is hanging by a thread. Shepherd Murape’s team are third from bottom, but level on points with FC Cape Town.

Another top team who will be sweating against relegation candidates are AmaZulu who host Santos tomorrow. A win for Usuthu will keep alive their promotion hopes while condemning Santos to the ABC Motsepe League.

Cape Town All Stars were, meanwhile, handed three points on a platter after Jomo Cosmos were found guilty of failing to honour their fixture against the Western Cape side on March 31.

According to a statement, Igugu leKapa were awarded a walkover.

“The disciplinary committee found Jomo Cosmos FC guilty of failing to fulfil their NFD fixture against Cape Town All Stars FC scheduled for 31 March 2017. The match was accordingly awarded to Cape Town All Stars with a 3-0 goal difference,” read the statement in part.

Ezenkosi were also fined R50 000, which was suspended for a year but will have to fork out the costs of the DC sitting, while the complaint by Mthatha Bucks was dismissed with Jomo Sono’s team found not guilty.