Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

The battle for promotion to the Absa Premiership begins in Namahadi tomorrow where Carara Kicks take on Jomo Cosmos in the National First Division playoffs at Charles Mopeli Stadium.

Pay television station SuperSport insisted on showing this first-leg match live at 8pm and not 3pm, as Kicks had requested.

Kicks, owned by rising Free State businessman Motebang Mokoena, have reluctantly agreed to play the game in Namahadi.

Basil Mohalane, Kicks general manager, said: "We did not want to waste our energy on this matter after losing out on our home-ground advantage.

"It's not fair for us but we are going there to play. We are now going to travel 300km to play that game against Jomo Cosmos.

"It has never been easy for us in the league this season. The league knew that our stadium does not have floodlights and we explained to them long before the draw.

"We cannot forfeit our home ground because of lack of floodlights. The broadcaster is not that unreasonable, they have shown games in the afternoon in the past."

Ace Ncobo, PSL general manager, said: "It is true that the game will be played at Charles Mopeli Stadium, Carara Kicks are the ones who chose the venue."

The two sides will meet in a second leg match at Vaal University of Technology on Sunday at 3pm to determine the overall First Division champions.

With the overall winners promoted to the Premiership, the losers will get another chance of gaining promotion when they meet Mpumalanga Black Aces in the Platinum play-offs on May 24.

In another Platinum playoff match on the same day, FC Cape Town will battle it out with the Premiership club finishing 15th.