A bleak weekend for Cape NFD clubs

STELLENBOSCH FC conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 with 10-man Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in a top-of-the-table NFD clash at the Idas Valley Sports Ground on Friday.

Lelethu Skelem put hosts Stellenbosch 1-0 up in the 74th minute for the midfielder’s first goal of the season before the visitors were reduced to 10 men 10 minutes later when Takalani Mashau was sent off for a second bookable offence card.

But that did little to dampen the spirits of the men from Limpopo as they grabbed an equaliser through midfielder Lebogang Mabotja three minutes from time to deny the Cape side a fifth win in a row.

Stellenbosch remain at the top of the standings on 17 points, but are being chased by a pack of eight teams within five points of the Winelands club, with TTM and Pretoria University the nearest chasers both a point off the pace.

“I wasn’t happy with the way we ended the game,” said a disappointed Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker

“A soft goal undid our good work, that’s the best way to sum things up.”

Ajax Cape Town have dropped to seventh following their 1-0 defeat away to fourth-placed Uthongathi FC at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.

Cape Umoya United suffered a third straight defeat after going down 1-0 to fellow strugglers Real Kings at Boland Park on Sunday. They are now 13th on the 16-team log.

As for Ubuntu Cape Town, it is troubling times indeed for the basement dwellers as they lost 2-0 away to Pretoria University at Tuks Stadium on Sunday.