Promotion chasers Highlands stalking Baroka for top spot

19 April 2016 - 02:26 By Tshepang Mailwane

Highlands Park's Namibian midfielder Peter Shalulile believes Baroka FC will crack under pressure and surrender the top spot in the National First Division. Baroka's lead at the summit has been cut to just a point after they were beaten 3-1 by Vasco da Gama in Cape Town at the weekend in round 25.The team has looked comfortable at the top of the log table for almost the entire season, but they are battling to get over the finish line and second-placed Highlands are ready to pounce and claim the big prize that is promotion.With more experienced players in the side compared with Baroka, the Highlands are yet to suffer defeat this year and are confident of winning automatic promotion."Yes, I think they are going to crack. If someone is putting pressure on you for a long time, then you will drop," said Shalulile after Highlands' 1-1 draw with bottom-of-the-table Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday."Automatic promotion is ours. We have got Black Leopards in our next match and we should get a win," he said.Third-placed Royal Eagles kept their hopes of winning promotion alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AmaZulu on Saturday, thanks to a goal from former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs striker Katlego Mphela in the first half.The Eagles are just four points behind Baroka and should feel confident of at least reaching the playoffs if their attempt to win automatic promotion fails.Relegation-threatened sides African Warriors and Mthatha Bucks were both beaten 1-0 by Cape Town All Stars and Black Leopards respectively.Warriors are in 15th place on 18 points and Bucks are a place above them on 22 points...

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