Mogan Segadavan
CALLIES will have to pull out all the stops if they are to retain their place at the top of the Safa-NMB SAB League when they play Fairview Rovers at the Saints field in Gelvandale tomorrow.
"With 13 matches to play, the league race is far from over," Callies president Daryl Ausmeir said.
"We still have to play both Subs and Lion City in the second round. We beat Subs but lost to City.
"There are no easy matches as all the teams lower down the log are causing upsets in their battle to avoid relegation.
"However, we are quietly confident of being there at the finish."
In the first round, the Londt Park outfit scored a narrow 1-0 win over Rovers.
While Rovers have little hope of winning the league title, they are the best-placed team among the chasing pack.
Subs, who trail Callies by two points, play Tomorrow Stars in the early game at the NU2 Stadium.
Stars are way down the log, trailing Subs by a massive 30 points.
Although the former log leaders won 2-0 in the first round, they have been in poor form in recent weeks and Stars could spring a surprise.
City who are in third place, four points behind Callies and two behind Subs, are the form team in the league and brimming with confidence. Last week they demolished Motherwell Academy 5-0 to sound a warning to the front runners.
They play Central Acemates at Kemsley Park.
City won 2-0 in the first round.
Hotspurs, who are challenging for a top four spot, play Royal Bucks at the NU Stadium. Last week Spurs beat Despatch Pioneers 2-0 to tie with Rovers in fourth place.
Fixtures: Subs v Tomorrow Stars (NU2), Despatch Pioneers v Island City (Khayamnandi), Motherwell Academy v Highland Spurs, Central Acemates v Lion City (Kemsley Park), Peace United v Showvillage United (Walmer High), Fairview Rovers v Callies (Saints), Camper United v Morning Stars (Uitenhage Central)