Eagles claw AmaTuks to stay second
Sibongiseni Gumbi
The race for promotion from the National First Division is entering its final stages with 10 games left and Royal Eagles made a statement of intent when they demolished former Absa Premiership campaigners University of Pretoria 5-0 at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Eagles are now second, six points behind pace-setters Stellenbosch FC, who are on 41 points after 20 games.
The Pietermaritzburg side – who recently hired actor and fitness guru Andile Mxakaza (above), aka Fezile on local soapie Isibaya – as fitness coach and Sazi Ngubane and Bafana Nhlapo as co-coaches are unbeaten in four matches and look credible challengers for the NFD title and promotion to the Absa Premiership.
On Saturday they ran Ziphozonke Dlangalala’s AmaTuks side ragged with Andile Fikizolo scoring twice and Diego Brown, Philani Cele and Dilon Solomons adding their names to the scoresheet as well.
Third-placed Ajax Cape Town didn’t do their chances any good when they were held to a 4-4 draw at home by Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Sunday.
New signing Thomas Verhaar continued his good form, contributing one of the goals for the Urban Warriors. Prince Nxumalo scored twice and Thendo Mekumela added his name as well.
For Tshakhuma it was Nhlanhla Mgaga who was in form, netting a hat trick with Onyedikachi Ononogbu scoring the other. Tshakhuma – who were top of the standings at some stage – now remain seventh in the league, but an incredible 13 points behind Stellenbosch.
Fourth-placed Mbombela United, meanwhile, could not make any headway as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Stellenbosch. The result was, however, respectable for the home side who trail the leaders by eight points.
Jomos Cosmos’ chances of staging a late run for the promotion places were dealt a blow yet again when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to strugglers Ubuntu Cape Town. Ezenkosi are now 18 points below top spot after the latest defeat.
For Ubuntu, the win boosted their survival chances as they are now 14th and two points above bottom placed Real Kings, who were beaten 1-0 by TS Sporting on Saturday afternoon.