Phakaaathi.co.za Leopards braced for a battle
RUN-IN: HIGHLANDS PARK AND COSMOS
Owen da Gama, though, could play a weakened team.
Black Leopards coach Joel Masutha admitted his side will have to work their socks off if they are to make the play-offs at the end of the season. Lidoda Duvha have two very difficult games coming up as they close their National First Division (NFD) campaign.
Masutha’s side made their intentions clear this weekend as they hammered relegation-threatened Richards Bay 4-0 to stay second going into the last two matches.
It gets a little tougher though. Leopards meet NFD champions Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium on Saturday and wrap up their campaign against thirdplaced Jomo Cosmos a week later.
“We have very difficult matches coming up,” said Masutha.
“With Highlands, they will not want to break their streak and even if they decide to give fringe players a chance as they have nothing to lose, those players will want to impress and will play for their contracts and give us a hard time,” he added.
Ezenkosi have also made their intentions clear and also have a tough run in with relegation-battlers Super Eagles lying in wait for them this weekend and finishing their campaign against Leopards.
With Mthatha Bucks already confirmed for the ABC Motsepe League campaign next term, Eagles still have a fighting chance and will be buoyed by their goalless result against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila this weekend.
In with a chance to steal into the play-offs are Real Kings, despite dropping important points last weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by University of Pretoria, who equalised right at the death.
The Magic Boys are four points behind Cosmos and five behind Leopards but have an easier runin as they play already relegated Amathol’amnyama and finish their campaign against Cape Town All Stars. Both their opponents have nothing real to play for.
Witbank Spurs also still have a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs, despite a defeat to Stellenbosch FC last weekend.
But, like Leopards and Cosmos, Siyavutha have a tough runin as they meet provincial rivals Mbombela United this weekend before taking on struggling Royal Eagles away in their last match.