With five matches remaining before the activities for the current National First Division League come to an end, Highlands Park are almost through to the Absa Premiership Division.
The Thembisa-based side, coached by Mr Owen da Gama, are leading the pack with 56 points collected from their 25 matches. The Lions of the North, as they affectionately called, need only one point in their remaining five matches to secure a place in the elite division.
Highlands Park scored 11 goals and conceded only one in their last two league matches. They beat Mbombela United 7-1 at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa three weeks ago before crushing Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 4-0 at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday. Should they play to a draw against Pretoria University at the Makhulong Stadium tomorrow, Highlands Park will be crowned the league champions and qualify for automatic promotion to the Absa Premiership.
Witbank Spurs pushed Mthatha Bucks deep into the relegation quagmire when they narrowly beat them 1-0 at the Puma Rugby Stadium in eMalahleni. Mthatha Bucks are now rooted at the bottom of the log with 20 points, four behind the other relegations candidates, Ubuntu Cape Town.
Mbombela United failed to collect the full points, even though they were paying in front of their home crowd. They shared the spoils with Cape Town All Stars 1-1 at the Kabokweni Stadium.
Royal Eagles' future in the NFD continues to hang in the balance, following their failure to collect the maximum points at home last Saturday. They played to a goalless draw with Pretoria University at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
Jomo Cosmos enhanced their chances of participating in the promotional playoffs by beating Richards Bay FC 4-2. Uthongathi FC shared the spoils with Super Eagles (1-1) and Black Leopards crushed Stellenbosch FC 3-1 at the Thohoyandou Stadium. Mwape Musonda scored a brace for Lidoda Duvha, while Isaac Masia scored the third one.