Baroka fail to overcome Highlands
Dan’s return rubs magic on Chippa
Bottom of the table Baroka failed to fire in their final home game of the season here last night and it’s hard to see them pulling off a miracle on the final day of the campaign on May 27.
With just one win at home all season, Baroka had to produce a big performance against fellow relegation candidates Highlands Park, but they could not deliver when it mattered most as it finished goalless.
Bakgaga are not dead and buried just yet, but they might as well be.
The highest they can finish is 15th place – the promotion playoff place – while Highlands still have an opportunity of escaping both automatic relegation and play-offs if they overcome dethroned champions Mamelodi Sundowns on the final day of the season.
Baroka will face Ajax Cape Town in the Mother City and the only thing that can encourage them is that three of their four wins this season have come away from home.
In an attempt to get big support during this trying time, Baroka offered 10 000 free tickets to their fans. It could be that the message did not reach them or the cold weather kept them away. But the game still saw a decent crowd.
The hosts made a good start to the game and Mxolisi Kunene had a brilliant chance early on to give them the lead, but he failed to hold his nerve from close range as he shot over the bar.
Highlands had a few good moments going forward, but they hardly tested Oscarine Masuluke in the Baroka goal.
In Port Elizabeth, Rhulani Manzini’s second half hat-trick lifted Chippa United from the bottom two , thanks to a 3-0 annihilation of SuperSport United 3-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night.
It was a sweet victory for coach Dan Maleselaon return.