Pressure builds as KZNHSFA Coastal and Inland A-Leagues reach halfway point
The Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Coastal and Inland Second Term Leagues have reached their halfway point.
This week’s games, thus, take on additional importance as teams attempt to make moves to secure places in the playoffs.
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Coastal A-League
The Coastal A-League is heating up and a keenly awaited showdown takes place on Tuesday at Queensburgh High School between the table-topping Port Shepstone High and the defending champion, Glenwood High.
Sheppie has won all three of their matches thus far, while the Green Machine appears to be hitting its stride. Last time out, Glenwood beat Empangeni, and they’ll be keen to build on that success.
Glenwood was beaten by Hillcrest High in their opener, but they’re up to fourth in the standings. Port Shepstone already has wins over Bechet, Empangeni, and Northwood.
Northwood has struggled this season, but they have an opportunity to right the ship when they tackle Bechet on Tuesday. The Knights haven’t yet tasted victory and have, in fact, lost all three of their matches, while Bechet has picked up only one point from their three games, thanks to a 1-1 draw with Pinetown Boys’ High.
Tuesday’s other matches at Queensburgh High School feature Hillcrest High versus Pinetown Boys’ High and Empangeni High against Westville Boys’ High.
Inland A
Edendale Technical High School, who are in fifth place in the Inland A-League standings, will have to climb a mountain on Tuesday when they take on the league leaders, Maritzburg College, on Barns Field.
The Red, Black, and White team will aim to capitalise on their home-ground advantage as they aim to protect and maybe even extend their two-point lead over Carter High at the top of the standings. College has seven points after two wins and a goalless draw with Carter.
Carter, meanwhile, takes on sixth-placed Newtown. While there is a considerable gap between their log positions, only one point separates the sides. A good result for Carter, though, and a slip-up from College, against a team that ousted them in the quarterfinals of the Jody Momple Cup last year, could see Carter leapfrog their rivals and move to the top.
Linpark, in third place, goes up against Haythorne Secondary School, who are propping up the table with one draw and two losses after three games. They’ll be out to reverse their fortunes on Tuesday.
Alexandra High School tackles Ixopo Secondary School. Their meeting has the look of a sneaky-good clash.
FIXTURES
Coastal A
Queensburgh High School
Field 1
15:10 – Bechet vs Northwood School
16:15 – Port Shepstone vs Glenwood
Field 2
15:10 – Pinetown vs Hillcrest High
16:15 – Westville vs Empangeni
Inland A
Venue: Barns Field (Maritzburg College)
15:00 – Linpark vs Haythorne
16:00 – Maritzburg College A Team vs Edendale
Venue: Alexandra High School
15:00 – Newton vs Carter High School
16:00 – Alexandra High School A Team vs Ixopo Secondary School
