Richards Bay FC Book Automatic Promotion to DStv Premiership With Exciting Draw Against Cape Town Spurs

Richards Bay FC Book Automatic Promotion to DStv Premiership With Exciting Draw Against Cape Town Spurs

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
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  • Richards Bay FC are heading to the Dstv Premiership next season after winning the GladAfrica Championship
  • Richards Bay FC won the GladAfrica Championship after a thrilling draw against Cape Town Spurs
  • University of Pretoria and Cape Town All Stars will contest the promotion play-offs with a yet to be decided team

Richards Bay FC are heading to the DStv Premiership.

The Natal Rich Boyz booked an automatic spot into South Africa’s top-flight by finishing on top of the GladAfrica Championship.

Richards Bay FC, Automatic Promotion, DStv Premiership, Exciting, Draw, Cape Town Spurs, Cape Town Spurs, AmaTuks, Cape Town All Stars, University of Pretoria
Richards Bay FC are headed to the DStv Premiership after securing the top spot in the GladAfrica Championship. @RichardsBayFC
Source: Twitter

Needing just a draw to secure the top spot, The Rich Boyz took on Shaun Bartlett’s Cape Town Spurs in their final game and managed to do just that. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Richards Bay could not find the back of the net.

Somila Ntsundwana was a constant menace to the Cape Town Spurs side and often got crosses into the box throughout the game. His teammates didn’t make the most of the numerous chances he created. Sitting just above the relegation zone, Bartlett's side made life difficult for the Rich Boyz as they looked to spoil the party.

Despite both sides’ best efforts, the game ended 0-0 and saw the Rich Boyz do enough to secure automatic promotion.

The other team in contention for league honours, the University of Pretoria, took on Hungry Lions at the same time. AmaTuks needed a win and had to hope that Richards Bay lost in order for them to claim the top spot. AmaTuks couldn’t make the most of their chances either as they could only manage a draw against Hungry Lions.

The draw meant that AmaTuks and Cape Town All Stars will do into the promotion playoff together with a yet to be decided DStv Premiership side.

Jomo Cosmos relegated to ABC Motsepe League, Ezenkosi to play in the amateur leagues after 39 years at the top

It’s the end of an era in South African football as Jomo Cosmos were officially relegated from the professional football leagues. Ezenkosi have been competing in the professional leagues for 39 years and are one the staples of the South African soccer scene.

The club was relegated to the GladAfrica Championship from the DStv Premiership at the end of the 2015/16 season and has been there ever since. Fans hoped they would return to the DStv Premiership, but the club dwindled.

Cosmos’ fate was sealed when they could only manage a draw with fellow relegation-threatened side, TS Sporting. However, a win would not have helped the side either as Pretoria Callies, the only side Cosmos could have leapfrogged, won their game against Polokwane City.

Authors
Byron Pillay photo
Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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DStv PremiershipSouth Africa