Black Leopards were crowned the league champions for the Inland Stream of the National First Division last Saturday. This after they brutally walloped United FC 5-0 at the fully packed Tshifulanani Stadium. Leopards finished their league programme in the first spot with 41 points.

African Warriors, who had been chasing the league title ever since the beginning of the season, finished their league programme in the second position, just a single point behind Lidoda Duvha.

Although they are the league champions, Leopards still have a mountain to climb in order to secure a place in the premiership division. They must emerge victors in the platinum play-offs that are scheduled to kick off next Saturday, February 27. The local lads will meet the Coastal Stream champions, Vasco da Gama, in the two-legged platinum play-offs. The first leg will be played at the Wynberg Stadium in Cape Town and the second a week later, on Sunday March 11, at the Tshifulanani Stadium.

The overall winner will be promoted to the premiership division while the losers will be given second chance. This time they will play against the team that finished in the 15th position in the Absa Premiership and two sides that finished their league programme in the second position in their respective streams.

Nathi Lions are the runners-up in the Coastal Stream, while African Warriors are their Inland Stream counterparts.

The fight to escape automatic relegation in the Absa Premiership is currently between Jomo Cosmos and Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Black Aces stand a good chance of playing in the relegation and promotion play-offs, considering the fact that they are now three points ahead of Cosmos, with only three matches to wrap up their league activities.

The relegation and promotion play-offs will start a week after the second-leg match for the platinum play-off matches.