There will be battles on and off the field in the SAB League in Cape Town tomorrow as the league reaches its pinnacle to decide the 2018/2019 champions and the two teams that will be relegated.
Off the field of play, the boardroom contests are set to continue as the outcomes of “the disciplinary cases of the clubs which paid late in terms of the SAB League team agreement” are going for arbitration. The case have changed the SAB League standings dramatically, as reported last week.
On the field of play, the last round of fixtures will take place and any of the three top teams can emerge as champions, while any one of the four teams in the basement can join the already relegated Kuils River – bar the arbitration case – in kissing goodbye to the SAB League.
All eyes will be on the clash between Matroosfontein and Cape Town City at Malta Park Sports Complex in Observatory as the results of that match could decide the league in both ends. A win for the Elsies River-based Matroosfontein will see them being crowned as champions in just their first season in the SAB League. And that will put City in jeopardy of relegation, depending on the results of other matches.
Other key games tomorrow involve second-placed Young Pirates, who will lock horns with Two Oceans at Heideveld Sports Complex, and the game involving Hanover Park and Greenwood Athletic at Solo Street Sports Complex. Both Pirates and Hanover Park trail Matroosfontein by just two points (see the latest standings).
In the bottom of the log, Bluegum United and Bayview FC will join City in their fight for survival, while Goal 50 United are mathematically not out of the woods yets. Goal 50 visit Junction Rovers in Manenberg, Bluegum host Nova Nacional while Bayview are also at home to Silver Spurs.
In other matches tomorrow, Bellstar United welcome Rebels United, whose good showing in the last few games moved them out of the danger zone, while Cape Town United take on Kuils River. Kick-off for all matches is at 15h00.
Whether these games will decide who wins SAFA Cape Town-run SAB League in the 2018/2019 season, or the arbitration case will have the last say is anybody’s guess. Watch this space.
