As the DStv Premiership season slowly reaches its climax, we glance at the relegation candidates as some teams are fighting for glory. The likes of Cape Town Spurs, Richards Bay, Moroka Swallows as well as Chippa United are some of the clubs flirting with the relegation axe.
While Mamelodi Sundowns are touted as runaway log leaders and on the verge of clinching their seventh league title on the trot, some sides are rooted at the bottom.
Relegation: Who are the PSL Relegation Candidates?
The 2023/24 PSL/DStv Premiership season saw Cape Town Spurs making their return to the elite division but they are seriously struggling to get out of the relegation zone. Looking at the log table, teams such as Natal Rich Boyz, the Dube Birds, Urban Warriors, and the trigger-happy Chilli Boys are mathematically facing the chop to the lower division.
Relegation: Cape Town Spurs
The Ikamva-based Spurs made it to the elite division following several seasons in the lower division, Motsepe Foundation Championship. The Mother City-based side got promoted through the NFD/PSL play-offs after seeing Maritzburg United heading in the opposite direction just before the start of the season.
Guided by former Kaizer Chiefs striker and Bafana Bafana legend, Shaun Bartlett, Spurs struggled to collect maximum points at the start of the season. After seven straight losses, the management decided to part ways with their saviour and roped in another ex-Chiefs mentor and Bartlett’s former boss, Ernst Middendorp.
Regarded as the worst losing streak in the PSL era, the relegation-threatened Spurs are still languishing at the bottom of the table with 12 points from 20 games. Having only 10 games to fight for survival from relegation, Spurs are slowly showing signs of redemption under the German mentor as they recently drew against Orlando Pirates, but they have to put up a fight and save their status.
Relegation: Richards Bay
Dubbed the Natal Rich Boyz, the Empangeni-based side is one of the relegation candidates worth a mention and they are struggling this term. The KZN side has had several changes when it comes to the technical team as Kaitano Tembo is now assisted by ex-Arrows mentor, Vusumuzi Vilakazi.
With an embarrassing 14 points to show for their efforts from 20 matches at number 15, Tembo and his bench are aware that three wins are not enough to save the club’s PSL status. On the other hand, there are rumours that former AmaZulu (Sokhela family) bosses are planning to buy the club as it is also mired in money-related struggles.
While the Nedbank Cup encounter against Tembo’s former bosses, SuperSport this weekend will come to ease their concerns, they face the reality of choosing money over their bread and butter.
Relegation: Moroka Swallows
The Dube Birds are slowly becoming a falling giant as they keep hogging the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Based in Dobsonville, Swallows under the chairmanship of David Mogashoa were praised for luring former Sundowns mentor Steve Komphela to the Birds’ nest.
However, the player strike over unpaid salaries in December was a sign of the worst days for the former Bafana skipper. Just in time before Christmas, Swallows failed to honour their two league matches against Masandawana and Abafana Bes’thende – leading to the dismissal of 22 players.
Among the players axed was none other than the dynamic midfielder in Andile Jali ahead of the Afcon break – they still sit 14th on the log table. In their most recent cup match and loss against the University of Pretoria, it was clear that the coach Musa Nyatama is seemingly a novice and will struggle to fill Komphela’s shoes.
Languishing at number 14 with 21 points from 20 matches, Swallows had to fight for their survival as many fans in Soweto were rejoicing over their redemption.
Relegation: Chippa United
As always, another relegation candidate worth a mention is the trigger-happy Chippa whose owner, Siviwe Mpengesi is known for firing and hiring coaches in haste. The Gqeberha-based relegation candidates are now under the guidance of Thabo September and Kwanele Kopo who took over from a novice, Morgan Mammila.
While they have 23 points from 20 matches at position 13, Chippa has a slight chance of fighting relegation as they might be in the play-offs. Looking at their next two league matches, they meet Polokwane City before turning their focus to embattled Amakhosi.
In conclusion, the four PSL teams have a lot to fight for in the remaining 10 matches and it remains to be seen if they will be in the upcoming 2024/25 fixture schedule.
