The road to the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs has been anything but smooth, as recent drama in the Motsepe Foundation Championship nearly disrupted the final standings. Durban City, who clinched the Championship title, had their celebrations put on hold due to a legal dispute surrounding the alleged improper registration of midfielder Saziso Magawana.
The uncertainty sent shockwaves through the league, as a guilty verdict could have drastically altered the table and play-off participants. However, after a thorough review, Durban City were exonerated and Magawana’s transfer deemed valid — allowing the newly crowned champions to retain their rightful place at the summit.
With that issue now firmly behind them, attention shifts to the high-stakes promotion/relegation mini-tournament, kicking off next Wednesday. The three-team battle will see Casric Stars host Orbit College in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, as they vie for a place in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership. Cape Town City — who missed out on automatic safety by the slimmest of margins — will enter the fray shortly after.
Cape Town City: Favourites Under Pressure
Despite entering the play-offs as the only top-flight team, Cape Town City’s journey to this point has been riddled with frustration. After finishing fifth in 2023/24, a dramatic drop in form this season saw them lose more than half their games. Their inconsistent performances left them clinging to survival — and they were ultimately nudged into the play-offs on goal difference.
The mid-season appointment of head coach Diogo Peral, alongside seasoned assistants Roger de Sa and Lebogang Manyama, failed to deliver the expected resurgence. However, there is a silver lining: City finished the season on a strong note, securing four points in their last two fixtures — a boost of confidence they’ll hope to ride into the opening clash of the play-offs against Casric Stars next Saturday at home.
As the only PSL representative, the Citizens remain favourites on paper — but they’ll need to show grit and focus to avoid an upset.
Orbit College: Quiet Contenders on the Rise
Orbit College’s meteoric rise has been one of the season’s most compelling stories. A ninth-place finish in 2023/24 gave little indication of the transformation that followed. This term, they pushed hard, ultimately finishing just five points behind champions Durban City.
Their remarkable campaign has earned them a shot at top-tier football, but they’ll have to overcome opponents who’ve proven tough to beat — including both Cape Town City and Casric Stars, against whom they failed to register a victory this season.
Still, the Rustenburg-based club knows opportunities like these don’t come often. With a well-organized squad and a proven upward trajectory, Orbit will be eyeing a historic promotion to the Premiership.
Casric Stars: A Shot at Redemption
Casric Stars have unfinished business in the play-offs. Having come close to promotion in the 2022/23 campaign — only to watch Cape Town Spurs go up instead — the Mpumalanga outfit are back with a point to prove.
Despite a stuttering finish to the current campaign, where they managed just two points from their final five games, Stars remain a strong side with deep roots in the division. After acquiring Free State Stars’ PSL status in the past, they’ve stayed relevant in the promotion conversation and are hoping that this season is finally their time.
They open the mini-tournament at home — a chance to make an early statement against Orbit College.
With drama already in the rearview mirror and high stakes on the horizon, the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs promise thrills, tension, and possibly, a shake-up in the league’s hierarchy. Cape Town City may have the top-flight experience, but both Casric Stars and Orbit College are brimming with ambition. Let the battle begin.
PSL Promotion: The Final Climb
As the dust settles on a turbulent Motsepe Foundation Championship season, the focus now shifts to the final and most decisive chapter — the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. For Cape Town City, it’s a fight to preserve their top-flight legacy. For Casric Stars and Orbit College, it’s an opportunity to turn years of ambition into history.
With momentum, form, and pressure all playing a role, only one club will emerge victorious and claim a coveted place in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership. The stage is set, the stakes couldn’t be higher — and the journey to the top is far from over.
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