Bottom of the league
PITIFUL Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu supporters are contemplating the exit from top-flight football.
Their misery comes as the PSL wraps up the 2014/15 season with less than three rounds of matches remaining while the two relegation candidates alternate occupying the 15th and 16th bottomrung log positions. How did they end up in the dog box? MOROKA SWALLOWS The Birds have failed doing the basics to find the net [28 for, 45 against goals]. Further compounding their situation were too many floppy midfield displays and a weak defence.
Veterans such as Siyabonga Nomvethe, Lerato Chabangu and Lefa Tsutsulupa have lost their sharpness and failed to find their feet again as age is no longer on their side. Failure to reinvigorate the squad with young but experienced faces caught up with one-manshow club boss Leon Prins.
Club administration shenanigans worsened the precarious situation of one of Soweto s respected football clubs.
Prins must shoulder the blame for the Birds demise. Minority shareholders and die-hard fans accuse him of running the club like his fiefdom, caring zilch about anyone else, and with sponsors severing ties. Swallows were in the same situation at the end of last season when they were touted as sure-bet relegation ' (' )$ ! $!* + * + ) , , & candidates due to several brushes with the drop zone.
From Zeca Marques to Fani Madida, then Craig Rosslee, not forgetting the stand-in coaches, instability dogged the Birds Nest throughout.
Earlier, Marques signed Kaizer Chiefs duo Lucky Baloyi and Philani Cele on loan, as well as former Bloemfontein Celtic defender Tsietsi Mahoa and Kenyan midfielder, Kevin Omondi, but in vain. AMAZULU
Before taking on SuperSport United last night, Usuthu had only five victories to show after failing to find winning combinations the entire season.
Like Swallows, they were destined for the drop from day one, following one of their worst seasons in the entire history of the pride of eThekwini.
Judging by the number of goals conceded [27 for, 38 against], Usuthu were let down by their defence.
It is also difficult to ascertain their strengths because they have been shockingly amateurish; failing to close the back door and constantly missing chances has been a thorn in their side.
When the Durban-based outfit were lying in third spot from the bottom three weeks ago, they thought their headaches were a thing of the past. Alas, escaping the doldrums was just a dream.
New players were roped in at the beginning of the season with the signing on of Philani Shange, Siyabonga Mngoma, Tapelo Nyongo, Mfanafuthi Dlamini and Darren Smith, who made no impact.
The dire situation forced Usuthu club management to ring the changes in the coaching department because Rosslee s rotating system was not working.
He was replaced by caretaker coach Wilfred Mugeyi before the taking over of Steve Barker, tasked with getting the results.
Lately, Barker has ensured AmaZulu keep shape at the back while being attackminded and results have been maximum points, but time is not on his side.
The bottom club after 30 games goes down while the team that finishes second from bottom will be in relegation/promotion play-offs along with those that finish second and third in the
National First Division.