RUSTENBURG – Bidvest Wits, league champions just 12 months ago, finished outside of the top eight after they lost 1-0 away to Platinum Stars at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday.
A first half goal from Bongi Ntuli brought Roger De Sa’s Stars just their fifth win of the season. But unless Ajax Cape Town, who went down 2-1 to Chiefs, lose the pending Tendai Ndoro case, the North West Province club will be playing in the National First Division next season.
Neither team posed much threat in the early stages of play and it was from the first clear-cut chance of the afternoon that the opening goal was registered, Ntuli putting Dikwena in front on 18 minutes.
Lifted by their goal, Stars remained on the front foot, although Wits grew stronger just before half-time and could have levelled the game in the 39th minute if Lehlohonolo Majoro had been able to find the target with a header from a Vincent Pule cross.
Majoro was to miss another chance just before the interval as the hosts took their lead into the break.
Wits coach Gavin Hunt would have been expecting a response from his side in the second stanza, but it never really came as for the most part, Stars remained in control.
The Students did manage to step things up in the final 25 minutes of the match, but the equaliser eluded then as Gabadinho Mhango fired their last chance wide as the Clever Boys finished the season in 12th spot.