MTC North East First Division log leaders Chief Santos will be eager to shake off their nearest challengers this weekend as they push for promotion to the Namibia Premier League.
There ‘s little margin for error at either end of the 12 team league as the 2015 16 campaign draws to a close, with half the sides still in with a chance of taking honours or dropping to the second division.
Relegated to the second tier football division at the end of the 2008/09 season, the once mighty Santos can take a step closer to the big league if results go their way.
They face daunting assignments away at mid table KK United at the Nkurenkuru stadium on Saturday, and Ntunguru FC at Shinyungwe ‘s John Mutorwa stadium.
Victory for Santos in both encounters will move them up to 41 points with three matches to go, eliminating sixth placed KK United (24 points) and Ntunguru (23) a further three positions back from the title race in the process.
The second placed team faces the third placed one as Santos ‘ fellow Tsumeb rivals Benfica take on Cuca Tops at the Oscar Norich Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides are on 31 points, but Benfica, who host Bingo (24) in seventh at the same venue on Sunday, lie second due to their superior goal difference. On Sunday, Tops take on fifth placed Young Rangers (24).
Meanwhile, Oshikango Chiefs in fourth place with 28 points come up against Ntunguru on Saturday and KK United on Sunday.
‘We are in for an exciting finish. The race for promotion is tight, and the fight to avoid relegation is also intense,’ said NEFD chairman Mpasi Haingura.
‘Chief Santos lead currently, but they know if they make any mistake, any of the other sides chasing them can capitalise on that.’
With United Stars and Julinho rejoining the NEFD after relegation from the NPL recently, the team which finishes 10th will contest play offs against the second division [regional] winners. The top two teams in the play offs will play in the NEFD next season.
Santos are the only team whose current total mathematically excludes them from the relegation battle.
Presently, second last Katima Wanderers (18) and basement side King Fisher (9) occupy the automatic relegation positions and face off in a derby at the Katima Mulilo stadium on Saturday.
Eastern Chiefs (18), who occupy 10th position, face Black Hawks (24) in eighth at the Bangani stadium in Divundu.
On Sunday, King Fisher host Black Hawks in Katima, while Eastern Chiefs take on Katima Wanderers.
