Rise and Shine stun Spurs, return to top table

POLOKWANE City hammered Pretoria Callies 4-0 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday to seal automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership.

‘Rise and Shine’ dramatically pipped both Cape Town Spurs and Casric Stars to top the NFD standings and return to the top flight after a three-year absence.

Spurs scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a useless point against the University of Pretoria as in a 1-1 draw at Athlone Stadium.

Spurs, coached by Shaun Bartlett, started the day in the driver’s seat at the top of the standings and knew they could decide their own fate with a victory against AmaTuks.

Polokwane started like a house on fire and scored four goals in the opening stanza, led by their inspirational captain Pulane Tlolane.

The news of Polokwane’s firsthalf performance in Limpopo would have reached Spurs’ and upped the pressure.

Visiting Tuks did not make it easy for Spurs and when Samuel Julies scored a scorching free-kick in the final 10 minutes, Spurs knew they were play-off bound.

Spurs would have been the most disappointed of the three sides as they failed to capitalise on their pre-game advantage and will now have to shake off their blues in preparation for another route to the promised land.

Meanwhile, at the Tsakane Stadium, Casric Stars, who began the day in second place, were held to a 2-2 draw by All Stars and dropped to third.

Stars quickly found themselves with a mountain to climb as they conceded two goals inside 30 minutes.

Although they came to life in the second half, they could not find the winner.

Stars will have to dust themselves off quickly and prepare for the promotion-relegation playoffs.

Both Stars and Spurs will wait to find out which Premiership side they will face when the play-offs commence on May 28.

The relegation battle in the elite division is yet to be decided and will be made clear next weekend in the final round of the Premiership.

Currently, Maritzburg United (-16 goal difference) are bottom on 29 points, the same number of points as Chippa United (-15) and Gallants (-5).

Richards Bay (-10), on 32 points, are in 13th place and also not safe from the drop.

| PHANDO JIKELO African News Agency (ANA) TEARS and disappointment flowed as Cape Town Spurs lost out on winning the Motsepe Foundation Championship and being promoted to the Premiership yesterday. Spurs finished second and will now contest the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. Here, Liam Bern of Spurs is overcome by emotion after the match.