Magesi earger to fill Baroka’s void

IT APPEARS that Limpopo champions Magesi FC will finally get promoted to the National First Division (NFD) after two failed attempts at the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs.

Magesi currently top Group B with six points from two matches. They now need just a point in their third match against Gauteng’s JDR Stars today at 3pm in Botshabelo.

Having hammered Morester Jeug 4-0 on Wednesday, Magesi continued with their form with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Free State hosts Manco Milano yesterday.

Also yesterday, Stars beat Jeug 2-1. The latter is already eliminated from the race, which makes their match-up against Milano today just academic.

Hot on Magesi’s heels at second place is Stars, which makes today’s encounter a winnertakes-all. A win for Stars and Milano in the other match will see the group finishing with three teams on six points and it will go down to goal difference.

Magesi coach Jacky Ledwaba said they were ready to fill in the NFD void left by their neighbours Baroka FC, who have since ascended to the top tier.

For Jeug, their failure extends Northern Cape’s run without representation in the NFD.

Even former Ajax Cape Town winger Mkhanyiseli Siwahla, who these days has been hopping from one second division team to the other, could not help them gain promotion.

In Group A, Western Cape’s Steenberg United hammered Mpumalanga champions Apollo 11 4-0.

United, who are second in Group A, meet North West’s Orbit College in their match today, while top-of-thegroup Kings United of Durban face Tornado from Eastern Cape.