Malesela’s Resurgence at Baroka Persists, Klate Experiences First Defeat!

On Wednesday afternoon, Hungry Lions maintained their second position on the table after beating Venda Football Academy 2-0 at Malamulele Stadium. Raymond Daniels gave Lions the lead with just four minutes on the clock and Muzomuhle Khanyi doubled their lead five minutes later. This result kept Ditau Dia Rora three points behind leaders Orbit College in the standings while Venda dropped down to 14th on the log with eight points.

In the same afternoon, Casric Stars ended their three-game losing streak after beating Pretoria Callies 2-0 at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium. Tlhalefang Kgabane opened the scoring for Casric in the first two minutes and Lifa Makua secured the three points for the hosts in the last minute. Casric climbed up to seventh on the log with 14 points while Callies were left rooted at the bottom of the log with seven points.

University of Pretoria blew a lead in the last ten minutes to dramatically lose 2-1 to Upington City at Windhoek Draught Park. After a goalless first stanza, Samuel Julies broke the deadlock for AmaTuks with ten minutes to go but Bonginkosi Makume equalised for Bafana Ba Gucci in added time. Vuyisile Ntobayithethi snatched the winner for Upington at the death, taking them above AmaTuks in eighth spot on the table with a better goal difference.

On Tuesday afternoon, Baroka won their third game in four matches after edging Milford 3-2 at Global Stadium. Lehlohonolo Nonyane opened the scoring for Bakgaga within four minutes, Kabelo Kgositsile doubled their lead two minutes later and Siyabonga Mthombeni gave them a commanding 3-0 lead on the half-hour mark. Menzi Chilli pulled a goal back for Milford seven minutes before the break and Chilli made it 3-2 and got his brace early in the second stanza but Dan Malesela’s charges held on to the win, taking them up to sixth on the log with 14 points while the Stallions fell down to 13th on the table with eight points.

JDR Stars remained around the promotion chasing pack after thrashing Platinum City Rovers 3-1 courtesy of a brace by Prince Nxumalo at Giant Stadium. Nxumalo broke the deadlock for JDR on 24 minutes and Alifeyo Ziba gave them a two-goal cushion just before the half-hour mark. Sipho Zwane reduced the deficit for City Rovers on 64 minutes but Nxumalo sealed the three points for the Hammerboys 19 minutes before time. JDR remained in third spot on the log, three points behind log-leaders Orbit College and City Rovers were left languishing second-from-bottom with seven points.

Marumo Gallants stretched their winless run to four matches after a 2-0 defeat to Magesi in the Limpopo derby at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Wonderboy Makhubu broke the deadlock for Clinton Larsen’s troops ten minutes before the interval and Motsie Matima got the second goal just before the hour-mark. Dikwena jumped up to fourth on the log, four points behind table-toppers Orbit College and Gallants fell down to 12th on the log with 11 points.

Daine Klate suffered his first loss in charge of NB La Masia after a 2-1 defeat to table-topping Orbit College at Isak Steyl Stadium. Faud Johnson got the opener for La Masia on 14 minutes but Orbit equalised on the hour-mark and snatched the winner six minutes later. The North West-based side maintained their three-point lead at the top of the log and La Masia dropped down to 11th spot with 12 points on the board.

Maritzburg United lost back-to-back matches after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium. The Team of Choices fell out of the promotion places, to fifth on the table with 15 points and Lidoda Duvha climbed up to tenth on the log with 13 points.