Baroka FC have been confirmed as National First Division winners and will play their trade in South Africa’s top-flight next season following their 1-1 draw with Milano United on Sunday afternoon.
Mzwanele Mahashe gave Milano a 1-0 half-time lead, yet Thabiso Kutumela was on hand to net his 18th goal of the season to level matters, the point enough to see Baroka pip closest rivals Highlands Park – who were 4-1 winners over AmaZulu – by one point to earn automatic promotion into the PSL.
Highlands Park enter the promotion/relegation play-offs, along with Mbombela United, whose impressive season saw them end the campaign in third after their final-day 1-0 win over Cape Town All Stars.
The duo will fight it out against University of Pretoria for the final spot in South Africa’s premier division for the 2016/17 campaign.
Thanda Royal Zulu’s 3-2 win over African Warriors sees the latter relegated alongside last season’s PSL outfit Moroka Swallows, who lost their last game of the seaosn to Witbank Spurs 5-1.
Final day NFD results:
Witbank Spurs 5 – 1 Moroka Swallows
Santos 1 – 2 FC Cape Town
Thanda Royal Zulu 3 – 2 African Warriors
Vasco da Gama 0 – 1 Black Leopards
Baroka 1 – 1 Milano
Royal Eagles 3 – 1 Mthatha Bucks
Mbombela 1 – 0 Cape Town All Stars
Highlands 4 – 1 AmaZulu
Story by Kick-OFF Magazine
