Leopards, Cosmos must use PSL chaos

Johannesburg - If ever there was a time for a National First Division (NFD) team to gain promotion to the Absa Premiership via the promotion play-offs, this will be it.

The ongoing legal saga around 15th-position in the Absa Premiership means either Black Leopards or Jomo Cosmos stand a good chance of earning a Premiership status.

All they need to do is take advantage of the chaos in the Premiership by going about their business as usual.

While Platinum Stars and Ajax Cape Town’s preparations have been disrupted as they are slugging it out in the court of law (as to who should contest the play-offs), both teams from the NFD have to seize the moment.

Fireworks are expected at Vosloorus Stadium when these two NFD sides clash in the promotional play-offs this afternoon.

The last time they met, Leopards emerged victorious – but that was then. Cosmos had already qualified for the play-offs and all they needed to do was honour the fixture. They even rested some of their key players because they had nothing to play for.

Today will be a different ball game as there is a lot at stake. Pressure is on Cosmos to use their home ground advantage to good effect by kick-starting their campaign with a win.

After starting their campaign with a victory over Platinum Stars, another win for Leopards this afternoon will get them closer to the promised land.

To win the play-offs a team needs to at least win one of the two away games, and also their two home games.

This will be the third meeting between these sides this season, with their two league clashes won by the home team.

However, this is the most important clash as it gives them the ticket to the Premiership. Both have been here before but left empty-handed. This time they will fancy their chances, particularly with the rivals in the elite league still involved in a legal case.

Playing at home should give Ezenkosi the advantage as they have been doing well at this venue. Their last defeat at home was back in February when they were hammered 4-0 by champions Highlands Park, but they have since gone four matches without a loss.

However, Leopards have momentum going into the game, following their back-to-back wins over the same Cosmos and Stars in their opening game of the play-offs on Wednesday.