Fight to avoid the axe
Royal AM supporters will be crossing fingers this evening as they battle for survival against Downs
“Ukholo lwami ngonyuka nalo ”— meaning “I will ascend with my faith” — is probably a tune that Royal AM supporters are singing as there are dark clouds hanging over the team.
This is because at Harry Gwala Stadium at 7.30 pm this evening, the only local team campaigning in the DStv Premiership — RAM — will be hosting the newly-crowned league champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
On Saturday RAM controversially lost 1-0 to Sundowns in the game played away at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium
This coming Saturday, at 3 pm, RAM will again be at home to face Chippa United, and on the following Saturday (May 25) they will play their final fixture against Moroka Swallows away at Soweto’s Dobsonville Stadium.
The fact is RAM are currently not clear of relegation worries and if their situation stays the same, they may be axed in the play-offs. This means they need to beat Sundowns to improve their situation. The local side’s players need to show determination, faith and skill if they want to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Yesterday, RAM head coach John Maduka said that he is aware that the visitors are an attacking team and are likely to make things difficult for the home side, but he insisted that they won’t be changing tactics and applying “something special” for the clash against the champions.
“I think from our side we need to be very cautious, defend well and be well-balanced. Of course they will be difficult customers who won’t make it easy for us and we will also be expecting them to take the game to us. We also need to approach the game with a winning mentality,” said the Thwihli Thwahla coach.
Meanwhile, local Motsepe Foundation Championship (NFD) outfit Maritzburg United will play their last game against JDR Stars on Sunday (May 19) away at Soshanguve Stadium, outside Pretoria.
Maritzburg’s late season surge has brought them into contention, but they will have to win their final game at JDR Stars to stand a chance.
They were dealt a massive blow when they were held to a draw by already-relegated Platinum City Rovers over the weekend.
Counting in their favour is a +11 goal-difference, so they need to beat Stars and hope AmaTuks defeat Baroka. That is their only route to third position and a play-offs spot.
Overall, the promotion/relegation battle in the DStv Premiership and Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) is going down to the wire and may only be determined on the final day of the respective league campaigns, according to SuperSport.
Fans already know who are moving up and who are coming down in the leagues. Magesi FC will replace Cape Town Spurs in the topflight, but as to who will take part in the three-team play-offs remains uncertain.
The team that finishes 15th in the
DStv Premiership are joined by the clubs that end second and third in the MFC, which concludes this coming weekend.