Durban City could lift the Motsepe Foundation Championship without kicking a ball come May 18.
However, this hinges on Orbit College FC beating Leruma United by seven or more goals in their last league match, which will be played on the same day.
At the weekend, the Farook Kadodia-owned Durban City (formerly Maritzburg United) enhanced their chances for a return to the Premier Soccer League since their relegation in 2023 after securing the vital three points in a fierce clash at home against Black Leopards, whom they beat 2-1 to stay on top of the log with 55 points and an advantage of 20 goals.
On the other hand, Orbit dished out a sterling performance in their league match played on the same day, beating JDR Stars 2-0 to maintain their second spot on the log with 52 points and more than 12 goals.
Last round of matches looming
With only one match remaining for all the clubs in the National First Division (NFD) to wrap up their 2024/25 season, this means Stars will conclude their season with 55 points should they beat Leruma.
For Stars to assume the top position, they will have to win with a heavy score and pray that Durban City lose their match away to Cape Town Spurs.
The good news for Stars, however, is that even if they do not win their last match, they have already secured a place in promotional play-offs because their closest competitors in the race for play-offs will not reach the 50-point mark.
The race for the second club in the play-offs is now between Casric FC, who are lying in the third position with 45 points after their 2-all draw with Leruma United.
Black Leopards are in fourth position with 44 points, Kruger United are in fifth position with 44 points, and Milford FC occupy position six with 43 points.
Sad news for Leruma fans in Daveyton
Meanwhile, the bad news for the fans in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, is that they will no longer be represented in the NFD after Leruma United were relegated to the lower division following their poor performance.
United are rooted at the bottom of the league with 25 points, and even their last match away to Orbit College will just be academic for them.
Should they win, they will finish the season with 28 points.
Their fellow relegation candidates, Cape Town City and Venda Academy, who are lying 15th and 14th on the log, respectively, have already secured 30 points each ahead of their last matches.
