Two Bloemfontein clubs, Bloemfontein Young Tigers and Mangaung Unite, poised to clinch the ABC Motsepe League are gearing up for tough showdowns this week.
As with the rest of their opponents they are scheduled to play two games, today (04/04) and on Saturday (07/04).
Including today’s fixture, all 16 clubs have five games remaining to end their seasons. All fixtures are scheduled to kick-off at 15:00 following a decision taken by the governing federation, the South African Football Association (Safa).
Today’s fixture see Tigers face off outsiders Tshiame All Stars at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium in Botshabelo while Mangaung have gutsy Dikwena United at the Westdene sports ground in Bloemfontein.
Saturday’s action will see Tigers visit tough opponents Sibanye Golden Stars in Welkom with Mangaung taking on relegated-threaten Lijabatho away in Viljoenskroon.
Five goals separate the two favourites, Mangaung and Tigers, who are tied on 55 points in the first and the second position respectively.
The game between Tigers and Stars is a must win for both in keeping alive their title-winning aspirations. Stars, in third position (49 points) go into today’s fixture aware that defeat will end their dream having already lost to fellow title contenders Mangaung, 2 - 1, a week ago. If Stars win all their remaining games, they will finish on 67 points while Tigers and Mangaung will end on 73 points if they win all five their remaining games. Stars can possibly win the title in case both Tigers and Mangaung lose three of their remaining fixtures.
Sharing the spoils will be acceptable in both the camps of Mangaung and Tigers while victory in the two forthcoming matches will keep them intact in the hotly contested league.
Other important fixtures are in the relegation zone where six clubs are engaged in a dogfight to avoid relegation at the end of the 2017-’18 season. These are Kovsies, Lijabatho, Free State Stars, Kingston, Dla2 and Young Masters.
