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Highlands Park not yet guaranteed a place in 2020 Premiership: Da Gama

1 March 2019, 12:05 PM |

Sifiso Ramara | @SABCNews

The race for the ABSA Premiership title is getting very tight as the season nears conclusion.

Image: SABC-News

The race for the ABSA Premiership title is getting very tight as the season nears conclusion.

Although his team is ninth on the ABSA Premiership log, Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama says with 27 points still to play for, his team is not yet guaranteed a place in 2020 Premiership.

They have another tough encounter this weekend when they visit Kaizer Chiefs in Durban.

In a full round of fixtures this weekend, bottom-of-the-log Maritzburg United host Amazulu in a KwaZulu-Natal derby on Friday evening.

The race for the ABSA Premiership title is getting very tight as the season nears conclusion.

Any of the top five sides can still clinch the title. Mid-table teams are fighting to finish in the top eight brackets.

Teams who are in the bottom half starting from 10th placed Golden Arrows, are not yet safe from relegation.

Only 11 points separate Arrows and bottom-of-the-log Maritzburg United.

Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama says:”The race is very tight any of the top five can still win it and this is good for South African football.”

“This is so good it shows you how much teams are putting in, how much management is put into their teams. This is very good for football and the top five I applaud them.”

In two mouth-watering clashes on Saturday, top of the table Mamelodi Sundowns host 7th placed Bloemfontein Celtic.

Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits who were at the summit of the log for most of the season, will take on Cape Town City in Johannesburg on Saturday evening.

Owen Da Gama says:”Anybody can beat anybody we saw it the other day SuperSport came from nowhere and beat Pirates , and we came from nowhere and beat Wits.”

Highlands Park wants to break into the top eight brackets this weekend, whereas sixth placed Kaizer Chiefs will want to remain within striking distance of the current pace-setters.

Also on Saturday, Orlando Pirates will travel to Arrows, while second from the bottom Free State Stars will host 13th placed Black Leopards.

On Sunday Baroka will face Polokwane City in the Limpopo derby, with SuperSport United travelling to Chippa United.