Gauteng sides drop the ball
NFD: COSMOS, AMATUKS AND MACCABI ALL GO DOWN IN PROMOTION RACE
It was a weekend to forget for the Gauteng-based National First Division campaigners as all three – Jomo Cosmos, University of Pretoria and Maccabi FC – lost their matches, raising question marks over any of them winning promotion this season.
Richards Bay FC halted Maccabi FC’s National First Division winning run when they beat them 1-0 at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Mokete Tsotetsi’s side had been on a four-game winning streak before Sandile Mthethwa’s 10th minute goal ensured the Natal Rich Boys took home the full points.
It was not down to a lack of trying from Maccabi but it was not to be their day. Maccabi, however, remain fifth on the standings with 18 points after 13 games and will hope for a better result when they meet Mbombela United on Saturday.
The win took Richards Bay into the top eight with the same number of points as Maccabi and they will look to build on it when they visit University of Pretoria in their next match. Maccabi and Richards Bay, while still in the chasing pack, are nine points behind the pace setters Stellenbosch.
Maccabi will have to dig really deep to come back with a positive result from Mbombela United. Mbombela have been in fine form and are one of the teams who have become early favourites for promotion.
Jomo Cosmos were downed by Royal Eagles who are starting to gel under their new Serbian coach Zlatko Krmpotic, who took over after Roger Sikhakhane’s death. Diego Brown and Dillan Solomons were the heroes of the day for Eagles with their goals taking the team to fifth on the standings. Ezenkosi slid back to tenth and are now 10 points behind Stellenbosch. Ezenkosi’s next assignment is away at struggling Uthongathi in Durban.
University of Pretoria lost 2-0 to Ajax Cape Town last Wednesday, slipping to 11th on the standings with 18 points – 10 behind Stellies. AmaTuks have now gone five games without a win and will try to curb that when they host Richards Bay.