Swallows to begin A-Division Top 8 defence against Ketane

Swallows will be looking to defend the crown they won in 2017
by beating Lerotholi Polytechnic in the final...

Econet Premier League bound Swallows will begin their A-Division Top 8 title defence against Ketane when the first division showpiece roars into life next weekend.

The Swallows-Ketane tie is one of four quarterfinals that were decided during Friday’s draw at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena where all the last eight games will take place next weekend.

The A-Division Top 8 is contested at the end of every season by the top four finishers in the first division’s North and South Streams. This year the action will kick-off next Saturday with a mouth-watering tie between North champions Galaxy and South runners-up Lithabaneng Golden.

Galaxy, who won the A-Division Top 8 in 2016, are headed to the Econet Premiership and are seeking a rare first division trophy double while Lithabaneng Golden are looking to win the club’s first major piece of silverware.

The second quarterfinal next Saturday will see Manonyane (fourth in the South Stream) face Litšilo who finished third in the North.

On Sunday, proceedings will be started by Lifofane (fourth in the North) taking on Lijabatho (third in South Stream).

The final quarterfinal of the weekend is probably the most interesting with A-Division South Stream champions Swallows – who beat Lerotholi Polytechnic in last year’s final – facing North runners up Ketane.

Maswai-swai have been celebrating their return to the top-flight for the first time since 2011 all week but Butha-Buthe’s Ketane surprised all and sundry this season by coming within a whisker of winning automatic promotion to the top-flight.

Friday’s draw also confirmed there will be an A-Division Champion of Champions clash between Swallows and Galaxy after the Top 8 tournament to officially bring the curtain down on the first division season.

The respective runners-up of the North and South Stream, Ketane and Lithabaneng Golden, will then contest the first-ever Econet Premier League promotion playoffs against the 12th placed finisher from the top-flight.

The playoffs will be contested using a round robin league format.

A-Division Top 8 Draw:

(All matches at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena)

Saturday

Lithabaneng v Galaxy (13:00)

Manonyane v Litšilo (15:00)

Sunday

Lifofane v Lijabatho (13:00)

Ketane v Swallows (15:00)