Battle of the basement-dwellers
FOCUS in the PSL will be firmly fixed on the race for the championship today‚ but an intriguing battle looms at the bottom of the log where as many as nine teams are still in danger of being dragged into dreaded playoffs.
Platinum Stars’ relegation to the National First Division after 15 seasons in the PSL ranks has been confirmed, but the identity of the team to play in the promotio/ relegation play-offs will be decided in the remaining two rounds of the campaign.
The team in most danger is second-from-bottom Ajax Cape Town (31 points)‚ who make the daunting trip to the capital to take on Mamelodi Sundowns today.
Sundowns need a win at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville to be crowned champions with a match to spare. Third-last SuperSport United‚ Polokwane City (13th)‚ Bidvest Wits (12th)‚ Baroka FC (11th) and Lamontville Golden Arrows in 10th could also see themselves fighting for their lives in the play-offs if they fail to attain positive results in the remaining two matches.
Danger of the play-offs even extends mathematically to Chippa United‚ AmaZulu and Bloemfontein Celtic‚ all on 35 points and who occupy positions seven‚ eight and nine respectively. If one of them fails to get the desired results and those below them win their last two matches. SuperSport caretakercoach Kaitano Tembo admitted that the thought of the club being relegated scared him.
“We have a big assignment in front of us because we are 14th on the log and closer to the relegation zone and we can actually be relegated. I want to achieve the mission that the club gave me to lead this team to safety. What is important is the pride of the club and the fans who love this club‚” Tembo said after SuperSport’s morale-boosting 3-2 win over Free State Stars on Wednesday.
“I was in a similar situation as a player in 1999-2000 where we were struggling under Roy Matthews. Bruce Grobbelaar came in and he managed to galvanise the team‚ which had quality players like Raymond Seopa‚ Japie Motale‚ Ronnie Zondi and John Moeti.
“I know that we have quality in this team. I hope that we will learn from this.
“This has not happened to this club in 18 years but it gives us time to reflect and check where we can improve. We have been successful as a club over the past few years but this can make the club stronger.” —