Things look gloomy for Polokwane City and AmaZulu
Relegation battle hots up as teams fight the dreaded drop
With the bottom five teams on the table all lying within six points of each other, this season’s Absa Premiership relegation battle is shaping up to be the closest ever.
From 27 games, 12th-placed Chippa United have 30 points, six ahead of bottom-placed AmaZulu, who have a game in hand. Behind Chippa are Black Leopards, who have 26 points, one behind Baroka.
Having played a game more, Polokwane City, second from bottom, are on on level points with AmaZulu. Both teams have 24 points.
With a defeat (3-2 to Kaizer Chiefs) and a draw (1-1 against Highlands Park) in their two games since football resumed, Polokwane look doomed. Rise and Shine’s remaining games are against Bloemfontein Celtic, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits.
Looking at their last three games, Polokwane could probably lose at least two of these fixtures, especially if their opponents’ current form is anything to go by. However, the experience of coach Clinton Larsen, who saved Chippa last term, should give Rise and Shine hope.
Chippa’s win over Baroka at the weekend should have boosted their morale heading into their final three matches against Chiefs, Stellenbosch and Golden Arrows. Normally, 33 points prove enough to survive, meaning Chippa may need just three points from the possible nine to stay up.
Restarting the season bottom of the table and without a coach after Alan Clark resigned a few days before the season resumed, Leopards have turned the table, winning both their matches into the restart. Lidoda Duvha beat Maritzburg 3-2 and Arrows 2-1, under the stewardship of interim mentors Morgan Shivambu and Mongezi Bobe.
Leopards still have to face SuperSport United, AmaZulu, Wits and Sundowns.This won’t be a walk in the park for the Venda side, but winning against Usuthu should be their main target.
Baroka have the toughest remaining games, having to play Sundowns, SuperSport and Chiefs. It’s unimaginable that Bakgaga can win one of these games, given their recent form and inability to score, having scored once [in the 1-1 draw versus pirates] since the league resumption.
AmaZulu are also still in search of their first win, with a draw [against Baroka] and a loss [2-1 to Wits]. With an inexperienced coach in Ayanda Dlamini, Usuthu may well be relegated. They still have to play Celtic, Leopards, Stellenbosch and Highlands.