WeeklySA_AdminGLADAFRICA CHAMPIONSHIP: Royal AM or Sekhukhune United to join elite league.
By Masoja Cele
Guaranteed, KwaZulu Natal will have a pool of four teams representing the province in the DStv Premiership after the completion of 2020/21 GladAfrica Championship season.
AmaZulu, Lamontville Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United are currently the DStv Premiership representatives in the KZN province. The fierce battle at the top in the GladAfrica Championship is between Royal AM from Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Limpopo newbies Sekhukhune United.
Also in the mix are Mpumalanga-based TS Sporting and long-time title contenders RichardsBay from KwaZulu Natal. Barring mishap Royal would be crowned GladAfrica champions on Sunday. And that would qualify either of Sekhukhune United, TS Sporting, Richards Bay and JDR Stars to participate in the play-offs berth.
The GladAfrica Championship would conclude its gruelling season on Sunday. With one round of games to complete the season, Royal AM are on the summit of the GladAfrica Championship.
They have amassed 50 points from 29 matches. The Shauwn Mkhize led club close the curtain with a tricky home tie against Cape Town All Stars. This should pose a danger for Royal as All Stars are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table. A very interesting clash.
Breathing heavily behind Royal is Sekhukhune United who trail the leaders with three points. Babina Noko are second with 47 points from 29 games. The Limpopo-based outfit picked up the pieces late after went into a brief slump.
Firstly, it was a 1-0 title denting loss against strugglers Ajax Cape Town followed by another 1-0 bitter taste defeat at the hands of Jomo Cosmos. The two defeats impacted negatively to the ambition of the Limpopo team. Before the downfall Babina Noko were comfortably perched on top of championship standings.
They were five points ahead of Richards Bay. For their outstanding tie, Sekhukhune United travel to JDR Stars in Pretoria. JDR Stars would want to win this fixture at all cost as this will qualify them for the national play-offs berth. The Hammer Boys are no push-overs, they are radical when faced with tough opposition.
A very trick affair for both line-ups.TS Sporting are fighting tooth and nail to win a slot in the national play-offs berth. The Mpumalanga ensemble upset the applecart beating Richards Bay 1-0 in Nelspruit. And the Rich Boyz has never recovered from that defeat. Abantu Bomthetho have collected 44 points from 29 matches. They play an away closing fixture against Pretoria Callies at Milpark Stadium.
The Romans are blowing hot and cold but have the potential to cause upsets when least expected. There is anxiety at the bottom of the table with teams like Cape Town All Stars, Steenberg United and Cape Town Spurs scramble for safety. Come end of the campaign one of the three teams will bite the dust and join fellow strugglers Bizana Pondo Chiefs.
All the final matches of the GladAfrica Championship will be played simultaneously and concludes on Sunday. The 2020/21 GladAfrica Championship is so intense that the champion could be determined in the final game of the campaign. It’s unlike the 2019/20 season where the winners Highlands Park won the league with 18 points lead with six matches to play.
