Mighty scramble to avoid drop
AS much as some have critiqued the quality of football in the DStv Premiership this season, the relegation battle has been more exciting than the English Premier League’s. In England, West Brom, Fulham, and Sheffield United went down without much of a fight, so much so that fans knew who the relegated teams would be when 2021 started.
In South Africa, with two league games remaining, no team has yet been officially relegated. Just seven points separate rock bottom Black Leopards from 12th place Maritzburg United, so there are still five teams that are in danger.
For much of the season, Maritzburg United looked doomed for the drop. However, a Thabiso Kutumela-inspired resurgence has helped the Team of Choice to navigate away from the dreaded drop zone since the turn of the year.
Leopards are still the favourites to be relegated and finish last but two wins from their last two matches against the unpredictable Cape Town City and Bloemfontein Celtic could dramatically see them survive.
Lidoda Duhva's 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in what was Gavin Hunt's final game in charge of the AmaKhosi last week would have given them confidence.
Relegation play-offs-bound Chippa United square off against fellow strugglers Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium this afternoon in a game which could be crucial in terms of determining who contests the play-offs this season.
A win for Chippa could see them navigate away from the drop zone while a victory for TTM will likely mean another season of top-flight football. Should Dylan Kerr's TTM side end up losing, they will face a nerve-racking final game of the season against continental football chasing Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Steve Barker's Stellenbosch FC side that has not won in 10 games, dating back almost three months, could wind up in the drop zone should they lose against TS Galaxy at the Danie Craven Stadium today.
Stellies end the season with a tough fixture against Golden Arrows, so they essentially must win one of their two remaining fixtures if they are to safely avoid relegation. If Barker's side get relegated, Cape Town City will be the only Western Cape side in the Premiership next season.