UCTISL First Division Final Week Preview: One Promotion Spot, One Playoff Berth and the Fight to Stay Up

It’s the final week of the UCTISL First Division regular season, and it’s loaded. Ten fixtures stretch from a Wednesday-night opener to a packed Sunday, with promotion, the playoff places and survival all still on the line. Most teams play their 17th and final league game this week. Six sides still have a catch-up fixture to come next week: Washed Athletic, Umbala FC, My Domain Salt River, Avenue Rangers, 11 And Under and Woolsack. A few results could still move the log after the weekend.

Where things stand: OBZ Square have already booked their place in the Premier Division. They sit on 43 points, and nobody can reach that total. The second automatic promotion spot is wide open, and so is the playoff berth behind it, with Washed Athletic, Peters Couch, Umbala FC and My Domain Salt River all in the mix. At the bottom, Quality Ballers FC are on three points, with a maximum of six still available, so they cannot climb out of the relegation places. That leaves one automatic relegation place and the relegation playoff spot still to be decided.

Wednesday, October 14, 6:00 PM: V-Chester vs My Domain Salt River (UCT FC Kopano Astroturf)
This is a big opener. My Domain Salt River have only played 14 games, so they have the most football left of any contender, and they are in great form, having won their last three. They have conceded just ten goals all season. A win lifts them to 35 points, level with third-placed Peters Couch, and they would still have two games left. V-Chester, the Rochester House and Varietas alliance, were hammered 7-0 by Peters Couch last time out and have little to play for except pride, but they could be dangerous spoilers.

Saturday, October 17, 2:30 PM: Forest Hill vs Woolsack (UCT FC Kopano Astroturf)
Last season’s champions Woolsack, who stayed down to run it all again, sit 16th in the relegation playoff spot on 11 points. They have two games left, this one and a catch-up next week, so they control their own fate. A win here would lift them to 14 and put them right back in the fight. Forest Hill, managed by Sandile and coached by Lindo, are safely in mid-table, but they will want to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Idiots FC.

Saturday, October 17, 4:00 PM: Peters Couch vs Avenue Rangers (Rhodes Recreation Ground A)
Peters Couch, the biggest brand in the leagues, close out their league campaign in third place on 35 points, and they have been scoring freely. They put seven past V-Chester and three past Salisbury FC in their last two games, with Leigh Austin leading the line. Their playoff berth is not safe, though. Umbala FC and My Domain Salt River both have enough games left to overtake them, so only a win keeps the pressure off. Avenue Rangers, the high-pressing outfit under Ndimphiwe Hlati, haven’t played since September 26 and have a catch-up game still to come. They are out of the race but dangerous.

Saturday, October 17, 5:30 PM: Carinus vs OBZ Square (UCT FC Kopano Astroturf)
Promotion is locked up, so OBZ Square can turn this into a chance to show they’re still the league’s top side. Player-manager and up-and-coming referee Lwazi Mhlongo’s men were beaten 5-0 by Washed Athletic in their first defeat of the season and will want to finish strong. Carinus are in the automatic relegation zone on nine points and have scored just 11 goals all season. They can reach 12 at most, so they need a result and some help from elsewhere.

Sunday, October 18, 9:00 AM: Bayer Neverlosen vs Salisbury FC (Rhodes Recreation Ground A)
A massive game for Salisbury FC, the “Champagne Kings,” who sit 15th on 13 points, only two clear of the relegation playoff spot. Mark’s young, quick-passing side climbed off the foot of the log thanks to a 6-3 win over Quality Ballers FC and will want one more big result. Bayer Neverlosen, led by Dyllan Stoll, have already done enough to finish comfortably in mid-table, after a 3-1 win over Upper Campus last week, so they can play with freedom.

Sunday, October 18, 9:00 AM: College House vs Upper Campus (UCT FC Kopano Astroturf)
This is a proper six-pointer. College House, the Jags, are 12th on 16 points after a 3-1 win over University House, while Upper Campus are 13th on 15 points, having lost their last two. Both play their final league game here, and the loser could still be pulled into trouble if Woolsack finish strongly. Coach Hlumelo Matshawule’s counter-attacking side vs Kennedy Makgotla’s experienced outfit, with both teams desperate for the points.

Sunday, October 18, 10:30 AM: University House vs Idiots FC (Rhodes Recreation Ground A)
University House, “The Eagles,” have lost three on the bounce and shipped 55 goals, the second-worst defence in the division, and they sit 14th on 15 points. They can’t afford another slip. Idiots FC, the South African arm of an international franchise, are unbeaten in five, and manager Nick Taylor will want a win to finish on 35 points and hope the table opens up above them.

Sunday, October 18, 10:30 AM: Washed Athletic vs 11 And Under (UCT FC Kopano Astroturf)
The game of the weekend for the promotion race. Washed Athletic are second on 36 points, fresh from a 5-0 win over OBZ Square and with 12 goals scored in their last three games. A win here would put them on 39, out of reach of Peters Couch and Idiots FC, and leave only Umbala FC and My Domain Salt River with a mathematical route to catching them. They still have a catch-up game next week as well. 11 And Under, the newcomers run by “Founder and Flappy,” haven’t played since September 26 and have lost three in a row.

Sunday, October 18, 12:00 PM: V-Chester vs Umbala FC (Rhodes Recreation Ground A)
Umbala FC have won five in a row, including a 2-0 win over Carinus last week, and sit fourth on 33 points with a game in hand. Win here, and they go to 36, ahead of Peters Couch’s current total before Peters have kicked a ball on Saturday. V-Chester end their league campaign with their second game in five days, and they will be looking to put a bad run behind them.

Sunday, October 18, 12:00 PM: My Domain Salt River vs Quality Ballers FC (UCT FC Kopano Astroturf)
The weekend closes at Kopano. Quality Ballers FC, bottom with a single win all season, play their final league game of the season, and it’s a daunting one. My Domain Salt River, who have the best defensive record in the division, will want maximum points here to keep their promotion push alive heading into next week’s catch-up game.

With OBZ Square in the Premier Division already, the second automatic spot and the promotion playoff berth are still up for grabs between four sides, and at the bottom Quality Ballers FC are all but gone while Carinus, Woolsack and Salisbury FC fight over the last relegation place and the playoff spot. It’s the final week of the season, and it’s going to be thrilling!