PSL return beckons for Highlands

HIGHLANDS PARK are on course for a return to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

The Lions of the North, who were relegated from the top flight last season, lead the National First Division (NFD) on 44 points, nine clear of KZN’s Real Kings with nine rounds remaining.

League newcomers Tshakhuma Tsha Madzihandila (TTM FC) of Limpopo Province complete the podium on the same number of points as Kings but trail on goal aggregate.

As for the Mother City’s three NFD clubs, Stellenbosch FC are best-placed in fifth.

Cape Town All Stars, who are unbeaten this year, lie ninth on 29 points, while Ubuntu Cape Town continue to prop up the log, a position they’ve held for longer than they care to remember.

Highlands will win automatic promotion to the PSL if the Tembisa side win the league.

The teams finishing second and third will contest a minileague play-off with the 15th team from the PSL.

All Stars were in action last night hosting 12th-placed Super Eagles at Parow Park. All Stars are one of nine sides separated by seven points and fighting hard for a play-off spot.

As for tomorrow’s three fixtures, Highlands will look to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 17 games when they entertain rookies Uthongathi FC at the Makhulong Stadium.

Rel e g a t i o n- t hreat e ned Uthongathi have only won four of their 21 outings, and went down to Highlands 1-0 in round 11 in Tongaat.

Stellenbosch are away to fifth-placed Jomo Cosmos, who lost their unbeaten home record at Vosloorus Stadium last time out when thrashed 4-0 by Highlands.

The first encounter between the two sides ended 2-2 in Cape Town.

Stellies, who contested last season’s promotion play-offs, will want to improve on last weekend’s performance that saw the men from the Winelands surrender the lead in a 1- 1 derby stalemate with Ubuntu.

Ubuntu, who are through to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup, have been bottom of the log for the past three weeks.

Tuks, who were held to a draw by strugglers Mthatha Bucks, have slipped to 7th on the log, but are only three points off the play-off zone.

The teams played to a goalless draw in Pretoria in round 11.

Witbank Spurs host Richards Bay tomorrow.

Both sides dropped points last weekend.

Kings entertain Royal Eagles in what is sure to be a pulsating KwaZulu- Natal derby, while Bucks are at home to Black Leopards.

TTM FC lock horns with Mbombela United, with both sides off a loss.

United eased to a 3-0 win in the corresponding fixture.