Linda Ximba
The GladAfrica Championship (GAC) promotion race took a major twist on Wednesday, when Sekhukhune United were elevated to the top of the table ahead of the final round of matches on Saturday.
The Limpopo side, who were placed second on the log behind Royal AM, challenged a PSL disciplinary committee’s ruling to deduct three points from Polokwane City and not hand three points to United.
Sekhukhune lodged a protest in the lead up to the match on 1 January against Polokwane City, who didn’t have five Under-23 players on their match sheet, as per the rules.
Sekhukhune, who are newcomers in the second-tier, have now won the case and have been handed the three points which places them level on points with Shawn Mkhize’s Royal AM.
United, however, have the advantage because of their superior goal difference.
Both sides have 50 points, with Sekhukhune sitting on a goal difference of 38 to Royal AM’s 33.
Sekhukhune need to beat JD Stars in Pretoria and pray that Royal AM stumble against the lowly-placed Cape Town All Stars in Durban on Saturday.
Meanwhile, with only one game to go in the GAC, Richards Bay FC have fired manager Simo Dladla and his two assistants, Siyabonga Mdluli and Thulani Nkosi.
It appears club chairman Sifiso “Jomo” Biyela pulled the trigger as the side find themselves in danger of failing to achieve promotion after they drew with Jomo Cosmos in Tembisa over the weekend.
Former Platinum Stars midfielder Sibusiso Msomi will stand in as coach when they end the season against Steenberg United at Mhlathuze Sports Complex on Sunday.
Richards Bay announced the shake up of the technical team on Twitter, citing poor performances as the reason for the sacking.
Dladla’s phone rang unanswered but Nkosi confirmed that they had been let go.
“Yes it’s true. They have terminated my contract,” he told Scrolla.Africa.
Picture source: @FarPost
