Milford FC’s promotion charge hit a speed bump following a slender 1-0 defeat to Midlands Wanderers, but the real crisis is unfolding at the bottom of the standings. Two former Betway Premiership sides are currently fighting for their lives, teetering on the edge of the relegation trapdoor.
The KZN side, Milford, dropped points against their provincial rival, Wanderers, who are in their first season in the PSL after gaining promotion from the ABC Motsepe League at the start of the 2025/26 season.
After the defeat against Midlands Wanderers, Milford remained at the summit of the league table with 36 points in 19 games. However, they are level on points with Kruger United, who collected three points with a 3-1 win over Venda FC on Saturday.
Kruger have established themselves as hot favourites to win the league in the Motsepe Foundation and gain promotion to the Betway Premiership for next season.
The Mpumalanga-based side has won 10 league games, drawn six, and lost three times in 19 games. They are sitting second on the log with 36 points, making a real push to leapfrog Miford at the top.
Elsewhere, Highbury FC bolstered their ambitions for a top-half finish with a clinical 2-0 victory over Gomora United on Saturday.
The result serves as a reality check for Gomora, who are currently navigating their debut campaign in the second tier following their promotion from the ABC Motsepe League. Despite their top-flight aspirations, the Gauteng-based outfit has found life in the professional ranks challenging; they currently sit in 12th place, having recorded four wins, 10 draws, and five defeats across 19 fixtures.
CAPE TOWN CITY MOVE TO THIRD POSITION WITH MAXIMUM POINTS AGAINST LERUMO LIONS
Meanwhile, Upington City FC claimed a 1-0 victory over Leicesterford City FC at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Musa Nyatama-coached team has been inconsistent in the NFD, lying sixth on the log with 25 points in 18 matches.
On Sunday, Cape Town City FC snatched a late winner through Dzenan Zajmovic to secure a vital 1-0 victory over Lerumo Lions. The result propels the Citizens into third place in the standings, accumulating 35 points from 19 fixtures.
However, the mood was far bleaker for two former top-flight mainstays, as Black Leopards and Baroka FC saw their survival hopes dealt a massive blow. Both Limpopo-based outfits suffered damaging defeats, falling to Hungry Lions FC and AmaTuks, respectively.
The current landscape paints a grim picture for the duo; Lidoda Duvha remain anchored to the foot of the table with a meagre 12 points from 17 matches, while Bakgaga occupy 15th place with 17 points, leaving them firmly entrenched in the relegation dogfight.
MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHDAY 19 RESULTS:
Friday, 27 February 2026
Casric Stars 1-0 The Bees
Kruger United 3-1 Venda FC
Highbury FC 2-0 Gomora United
Saturday, 28 February 2026
Upington City FC 1-0 Leicesterford City FC
Milford FC 0-1 Midlands Wanderers
Sunday, 01 March 2026
Lerumo Lions FC 0-1 Cape Town City FC
Black Leopards 1-2 Hungry Lions FC
AmaTuks 1-0 Baroka FC
RELATED STORY: Pirates stumble again, as Stellenbosch humble them