Down to the wire in the First Division

IT’S Super Sunday in the National First Division, with clubs looking to reach the play-offs to join league winners Golden Arrows in the Absa Premiership next season.

Jomo Cosmos, Black Leopards, Thanda Royal Zulu and Cape Town All Stars, clubs which all have former PSL coaches at the helm, have a shot at reaching the play-offs going into the final day of the season.

Cosmos, who are second, have a difficult task away from home against fifth-placed All Stars, coached by Boebie Solomons.

Third-placed Leopards, coached by Zeca Marques, have a fairly easy tie against African Warriors at Thohoyandou Stadium, while fourth-placed Thanda Royal Zulu host already relegated Garankuwa United.

Analyst Elasto Kapowezha, who played for FC AK, makes his predictions for the final day of the season.

The clubs that finish second and third qualify for the playoffs and they’ll be joined by the side that finishes 15th in the Absa Premiership. Kapowezha’s prediction: Since they got relegated, this is Cosmos’s best season in the National First Division. We know them as a hard-tackling team, but a lot has changed. With Bryce Aka and Charlton Mashumba upfront, they have done very well. They have a superior goal difference and I think they will make the playoffs, even if they lose to All Stars. I am worried about Cosmos because they have not done well enough recently to show they can do well in the play-offs. Kapowezha’s prediction: Leopards are in good form and they have done very well since Zeca Marques came in as coach. They needed some form of stability in the technical team because they were chopping and changing. But things went well when Zeca came in, although I was a little worried because he had no experience in the division. We thought it would take time for him to settle, but that Nations Cup break helped him a lot. Leopards will beat Warriors and qualify for the play-offs. Kapowezha’s prediction: Thanda should be disappointed in themselves. At one stage it looked certain they would make the play-offs. But a coaching change affected them.

(Vladislav) Heric never sat on the bench because he could not get a work permit and they brought in Roger Sikhakhane with eight matches to go. I think they will miss out on the playoffs again, just like last season.