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Pressure mounts in the Mother City with three Cape-based NFD sides finding themselves in the relegation zone, one having already relieved their coach of his duties as we head into the third match of the campaign.

Cape-sides are well known for their blistering starts to the NFD season, while fading when approaching the business end. League action heats up this weekend with promotional driven Milano United, Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town All Stars gunning for nothing less than their first point of the season.

Saturday's encounters sees Eezy My Kinnes host Ezenkosi at Parow Park, with the Boebie Solomons lead charges looking to turnaround their early season disappointment.

Wrapping up Saturday's action will be Cape Town All Stars who take on the big-spending Royal Eagles, while FC Cape Town and Stellenbosch are also on the road as they take on the University of Pretoria and Magesi FC respectively. 

Sunday sees old rivalry being reignited with the People's Team, who are the only unbeaten Cape side taking on Black Leopards at Parow Park.

On the head to head count Santos have managed to win and lose six matches, while four encounters ended in draw. Last season Santos coach Zeca Marques completed the double over his former side as both matches ended in 2-1 victories.

Weekend Fixtures:

Saturday, 17 September - 15H00
Milano United v Jomo Cosmos
Royal Eagles v Cape Town All Stars
University of Pretoria v FC Cape Town
Magesi FC v Stellenbosch FC
Mthatha Bucks v AmaZulu
Real Kings v Mbombela United

Sunday, 18 September - 15H00
Santos v Black Leopards
Thanda Royal Zulu v Witbank Spurs 

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Saturday, 10 September 2016 – 15H00

Black Leopards v Jomo Cosmos, Thohoyandou Stadium
Old foes do battle as Lidoda Duvha go in search of their first points of the 2016-17 season, while Ezenkosi look to maintain their unbeaten start as they travel to the Limpopo Province. The two former PSL outfits have met on 22 occasions, Leopards edging with nine wins to Cosmos' five, with eight matches ending a draw.

Witbank Spurs v Mthatha Bucks, Puma Rugby Stadium
A crunch encounter waits as Siyavutha face early leaders Amathol'amnyama, with both sides on the back of positive opening round results. The Eastern Cape-based Bucks however are yet to secure a point against Spurs, suffering defeat in two previous meetings.  

FC Cape Town v Magesi FC, NNK Rugby Stadium
NFD rookies Magesi make their first trip to the Mother City as Moletjie’s Dikwena take on the African Beasts. The host heads into the encounter on the back of an away draw to Jomo Cosmos, while new boys Magesi look to pick themselves up from a home defeat.

Stellenbosch FC v University of Pretoria, Coetzenberg Stadium
A heated affair waits down in the Cape Winelands as Stellenbosch coach Sammy Troughton faces his previous employers.The AmaTuks bench will also have no stranger to the Mother City in coach Shaun Bartlett, as the former Cape Town Spurs striker squares off against a team where he spent a portion of his youth career.

Mbombela United v Milano United, Kanyamazane Stadium
Tingwenyama will be gunning for their first win of the season as they come up against Eezy My Kinnes who also heads into Saturday's encounter on the back of a first round defeat. The Cape-based side is yet to win against Mbombela having suffered 1-0 defeats on two previous outings.

Real Kings FC v Santos, Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
The KwaZulu-Natal Kings will be aiming to extend their unbeaten start to their maiden campaign, as they host the People's Team in their first home match of the season. Confidence will surely be high in the Santos camp, after opening round victory, as the Cape-based side looks to dethrone Kings.

Sunday, 11 September 2016 – 15H00

Thanda Royal Zulu v Royal Eagles, Umhlathuze Sports Complex
A Royal derby is set for the KZN province as a roaring Ambubeshi take on an Eagles side that are yet to take flight. Opening round results saw Thanda claw their way back to a 2-1 away victory to new boys Magesi, while Eagles had to settle for 1-1 draw against NFD rookies Real Kings.

Cape Town All Stars v AmaZulu, Parow Park
Igugu Lekapa will look to bounce back from their opening round defeat, as they take on Usuthu in their first home match of the season. A crunch encounter will surely be on the cards with both sides having bolstered their squads, gunning for outright promotion.

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A massive 23 goals have been scored in the opening round of the NFD, all 16 teams managed to find the back of the net, with Mthatha Bucks being the early pacesetters.

The level of competitiveness seems to have gone up a notch, with the newly promoted teams holding their own against big-spending and more experience opposition.

New boys Magesi started life in the NFD with a 2-1 defeat, this after taking a 1-0 half time lead against Thanda Royal Zulu. The Richards Bay outfit showing their experience as the Roger Sikhakhane coached Amabhubesi clawed their way back to victory.

Real Kings almost crowned their debut with a victory at the Harry Gwala Stadium. However their 1-0 half time advantage was not enough, as neighbours Royal Eagles found the equaliser to end what could have been an opening round upset.

The PSL relegated sides remained unbeaten after the first round of matches, University of Pretoria were off to a good start beating Cape Town All Stars. While another former PSL-side in Jomo Cosmos secured a draw against FC Cape Town.

Mthatha Bucks seems to have put last season’s relegation worries to bed, putting Stellenbosch FC to the sword with a 3-1 victory. Amathol'amnyama who had to wait 13 matches for their first victory in their previous campaign, seems to have hit the ground running as they occupy the top spot after round one.

Weekend Results

Saturday 27 August

University of Pretoria 2-1 Cape Town All Stars

Mthatha Bucks 3-1 Stellenbosch FC

Royal Eagle 1-1 Real Kings

Santos 2-1 Mbombela United

Magesi FC 1-2 Thanda Royal Zulu

Sunday 28 August

Jomo Cosmos 1-1 FC Cape Town

Milano United 1-2 Witbank Spurs

AmaZulu 2-1 Black Leopards

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Saturday, 27 August 2016 – 15H00

University of Pretoria v Cape Town All Stars, Tuks Stadium
AmaTuks returns to life in the National First Division, after spending the past four seasons in the PSL. They welcome a promotional-driven Igugu Lekapa who will be gunning for a bright start to their third season in the NFD.

Santos v Mbombela United, Parow Park
The Peoples Team will look to hit the ground running against last season’s surprise package in Tingwenyama. Santos who are on the back of another disappointing season in the NFD, will have to battle it out against Mbombela, whose sights will be to go one better than last season's play-off finish.

          

Royal Eagles v Real Kings FC, Harry Gwala Stadium
A baptism of fire will surely be on the cards as the big-spending Eagles welcomes their newly promoted neighbours. There however will be no royal treatment for the Kings as derby action ascends on the KZN province.

Mthatha Bucks v Stellenbosch FC, Mthatha Stadium
The action returns to Mthatha Stadium in what will be a replay of last season’s opening fixture, with both sides gunning for improved performances. Amathol'amnyama will be looking keep last season’s unbeaten home record intact hosting the team formerly known as Vasco Da Gama.

Magesi FC v Thanda Royal Zulu, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Rookies Magesi gets a taste of life in the NFD as they entertain Amabhubesi in their opening encounter. The Richards Bay-based Thanda will be hoping to stamp their authority early on, to avoid a repeat of last seasons nail bitting relegation battle.

Sunday, 28 August 2016 – 15H00

Jomo Cosmos v FC Cape Town, Olen Park Stadium
It’s a return to what could be said to be familiar grounds for Ezenkosi, as coach Sono plots his 4th return to the PSL. A crunch encounter can be expected as Cosmos host the African Beasts, who are also no strangers to the demands of the NFD.

AmaZulu v Black Leopards, Prince Magogo Stadium
Two former PSL sides do battle as Usuthu host Lidoda Duvha, with Zimbabwean tacticians on either side of the field getting their first taste of NFD action. There however will be no time to crawl with promotion to the elite league being high on the agenda of both sides.

Milano United v Witbank Spurs, Boland Rugby Stadium
It’s off to Boland for Eezy my Kinnes as look to avenge last season’s defeat at the hands of Siyavutha. The match day venue will surely be a test for both promotional-driven sides, with the home side scheduled to play their first competitive match at the venue. 

A heated affair awaits

The National First Division is sure to heat up this coming campaign, with no less than seven former PSL-sides having to sweat it out in what is arguably the most competitive league in South Africa, as everyone guns for promotion.

Despite the leagues lack of sponsorship and live TV coverage, NFD action has seen steady increase in attendance, with supporters in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eastern Province outnumbering their PSL counterparts.

There has also been an influx of former top tier coaches and players adapting to the demands of the fast paced league, along with adding great value to standard.

The second tier of SA football provides a platform for up and coming footballers to showcase their talent, with some already having caught the eye of national selectors, while others managing moves to the PSL and abroad.

With the start of the 2016-17 season on the horizon, below are the 16 teams that will be looking to rise to the top.