It's a two-horse race for promotion

With most of the teams affiliated with the Limpopo Stream of the ABC Motsepe League left with four matches to wrap up the season, which team will lift the trophy is still not clear. The race for promotion is between Mpheni Defenders and the Giyani-based Emmanuel FC.

Mpheni Defenders are leading the pack with 27 points, despite losing to Emmanuel FC, who beat them 1-0 at the Malamulele Stadium last Saturday. Emmanuel FC are hot on their heels, trailing by three points. Unlike Defenders, who have four matches left to wrap up their league program, Emmanuel FC have five matches remaining.

A quick glance at the remaining fixtures for Defenders shows that the Mpheni side has a mountain to climb. Three of their four remaining fixtures will be played away from home. Their only home fixture will be against United Artists, with whom they will lock horns on Saturday, 13 April. Their three away fixtures will be against Madridtas FC, Maruleng Celtic, and Winners Park FC.

The head coach of Mpheni Defenders, Mr Sydwell Phuravhathu, said they would do everything possible to ensure that they won all their remaining matches and see how Emmanuel will fare in their five remaining fixtures. Emmanuel’s remaining fixtures are against Winners Park (away), Madridtas FC (home), Giyani Happy Boys (away), Vondwe XI Bullets (home), and Maruleng Celtic (away).

The head coach of Emmanuel FC, Tshikani Nkondo, is adamant that they will manage to win all their remaining fixtures. On the other side of the log, Musina United will need a miracle to escape the relegation axe. They are deeply rooted at the bottom of the log with seven points, seven behind the other relegation candidates, Giyani Happy Boys. Musina United have four matches left, while Giyani United have an extra match in hand.

Date:29 March 2024

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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