Staff Reporter.
The race to win the GladAfrica Championship took another turn in Matchday 26, with a change of leadership at the top of the table through the course of eight matches played from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 April.
The round opened on Friday evening at Athlone Stadium with a 1-1 draw between Cape Town Spurs and Polokwane City: the Urban Warriors led through Colin Ryan but were pegged back by a late penalty from Rise and Shine’s Puleng Tlolane.
Saturday’s two key results came from Parow Park and Olen Park, as Richards Bay reclaimed top spot with a 5-1 win away to Platinum City Rovers, taking full advantage of Pretoria University being held by hosts Cape Town All Stars.
The Natal Rich Boyz, who succumbed 1-0 to the University team last midweek, thrashed their hosts in Potchefstroom thanks to goals from Sibonginhlanhla Mthethwa, Simphiwe Mcineka and a hat-trick from Sakhile Hlongwa.
AmaTuks found themselves 1-0 down away to All Stars thanks to Ndiviwe Mdabuka’s opener, but struck back through Wonderboy Makhubu to salvage a 1-1 draw.
Richards Bay and Pretoria University are level on 46 points apiece at the top of the log, though the KwaZulu-Natal club holds pole position on goal difference (+15 to +13).
Saturday also saw a 2-1 win for Black Leopards at home to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in their derby showdown – Tiklas Thutlwa netted a brace for Lidoda Duvha to see them claim victory and move well clear of the danger zone – as well as a 0-0 draw between JDR Stars and Free State Stars.
Sunday’s key result was a 3-2 away win for Venda Football Academy over Jomo Cosmos at the Tsakane Stadium – Venda triumphed thanks to goals from Rudzani Thobo, Rankoko Tau and Rotonswa Mutsivhuli to move into third place on the log (four points off the leading duo), while Ezenkosi remain bottom of the log.
Cosmos are three points behind second-from-bottom TS Sporting, who secured a 2-1 home win over Hungry Lions at Kabokweni Stadium, while Pretoria Callies have put eight points between themselves and the foot of the table with a 1-0 triumph over Uthongathi FC at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The GAC will resume with a full round of matches on the weekend of Friday 22 to Sunday 24 April.
GAC Weekend Results
Friday 15 April
Cape Town Spurs 1-1 Polokwane City
Saturday 16 April
Platinum City Rovers 1-5 Richards Bay
JDR Stars 0-0 Free State Stars
Black Leopards 2-1 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila
Cape Town All Stars 1-1 Pretoria University
Sunday 17 April
TS Sporting 2-1 Hungry Lions
Jomo Cosmos 2-3 Venda Football Academy
Pretoria Callies 1-0 Uthongathi FC
Supersport contributed to the report.