Fight to the finish in NFD

Four “cup final” matches will headline the National First Division tomorrow as the division draws to an end with two teams fighting for the remaining spot in the promotion play-offs while three will be hoping to escape relegation.

AmaZulu and Stellenbosch FC will need to win their games to secure the last remaining spot in the play-offs, with the other one already reserved for Black Leopards.

Usuthu have the toughest assignment of the two as they face a team desperate to escape relegation in FC Cape Town away. A win will take Joey Antipas’ team to 50 points and guarantee them a chance to fight for a return to the Absa Premiership next season.

Stellenbosch also need to win but their promotion depends entirely on how Usuthu fare against the African Beasts as they can only get to 49 points. But Sammy Troughton’s side have a fixture that looks much lighter on paper as they face relegated Santos.

But if Wednesday’s results are anything to go by, Stellenbosch will have to bring their A-game. The People’s Team knocked Witbank Spurs out of the promotion play-offs spot race with a surprise 1-0 beating on Wednesday.

But it is in the relegation zone where things are most interesting. FC Cape Town, Magesi FC and Milano United will be fighting to survive relegation to the semi-professional ABC Motsepe League where Santos have already booked a spot.

The Premier Soccer League have, meanwhile, confirmed that Thanda Royal Zulu will be officially handed their NFD trophy at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban where they play Real Kings in a dead rubber fixture tomorrow afternoon. Amabhubesi won the championship and booked their place in the elite league with three matches to spare.