On The Ongoing Promotion-Relegation Play-Offs
The promotional play-offs have been interesting. They started with Cape Town Spurs beating Casric Stars in the first match and that was followed by Maritzburg United also winning their first match against Casric Stars. Spurs then beat Maritzburg at home in a crucial match. Looking at how things are at the moment, it's evidently clear that this will be a two-horse race between Spurs and Maritzburg. I still believe that Maritzburg are still in it, but we all know that Spurs have an upper hand. I don't want to take anything away from Casric Stars because they will make it tough for Spurs in the return leg. If Maritzburg beat Casric Stars in their next match, that will take them to six points and bring them back in contention for the number one spot. Maritzburg started well in their first match, but I think they could have scored more goals. Against Spurs in Cape Town, it was always going to be difficult for them because Spurs stuck to their game plan and that was a good indication that the Motsepe Foundation Championship teams are not in the play-offs for the sake of participation – they are competing to get promoted. I can't remember the last time a second tier team got promoted through the play-offs because they always have a disadvantage of playing their season using five U23 players. If you look at Spurs at the moment, Shaun Bartlett has assembled a nice and balanced team when it comes to the experience. Jarrod Maroole was the captain of the Stellenbosch FC team that got promoted to the DStv Premiership. Michael Morton is an ex-DStv Premiership player and we all know what he is capable of doing. Nazeer Allie and Clayton Daniels, who was at Maritzburg, are two experienced defenders with a proven track record. Morne Nel is a former SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town player, so there is good experience in that Spurs side and that's why I was not surprised to see them beat Maritzburg. I think this is going to be an evenly contested race between Spurs and Maritzburg United.
On Maritzburg's Big Disadvantage In The Mini-League
This is a tricky situation for Maritzburg because their players are reaching the stage of the season where they are mentally drained. They've been playing for six months fighting relegation in their minds and now they are in the final hurdle. So, their mentality, to a certain degree, is a lot on the negative side. They won't be as pumped up as Spurs. Spurs have seen the potential of getting promoted, so they are going all out now. Maritzburg have been playing for the last six months with relegation lingering on their shoulders and always looking at the table and that could be a negative thing. Spurs are in this race as underdogs and they are playing with no fear. Maritzburg have this weight on their shoulders where they are expected to survive because they are a DStv Premiership team. They are capable of bouncing back because they have enough quality in their team. I think with Fadlu Davids as their coach, he can help them through this. If I remember correctly, Fadlu was relegated with Maritzburg as a player and he went down to the National First Division with the team. He will try to motivate them and make them realise that they are 180 minutes away from retaining their DStv Premiership status. I can't imagine what this must be like for them because as a player, I was very fortunate to avoid playoffs while I was at Bloemfontein Celtic. That season, Thanda Royal Zulu went to the play-offs. We also avoided the situation in all my five seasons while I was at Maritzburg.
On How He Thinks Things Will Play Out In The End
Casric Stars know that their chances of getting promoted are very slim now because you can't lose two matches and expect to get promoted. Mathematically, they still have a chance on goal difference, but I don't think it will happen for them. If Maritzburg can score first in their game against Casric Stars, the floodgates could open. I think Maritzburg will go all out in their game against Casric Stars to reduce the deficit so that we can have a decider in the last game. These play-offs can go all the way to the last match at Harry Gwala Stadium and Spurs will go into that match a little bit cautious. What will help Maritzburg is that it will be their home game and their supporters will come out in numbers to rally behind them in that match. Spurs have good balance in their team. Their striker, Ashley Cupido, has been scoring a lot of goals this season and that has put them on the radar of some big DStv Premiership teams. Maritzburg have young and energetic players in their team and it will be sad to see one of the teams not go up. I feel that at the moment things are leaning towards Spurs. But Cape Town Spurs have also shown in the last game of the season that they could easily throw it away. Everything will depend on how Maritzburg perform against Casric Stars. But let's hope that Cape Town Spurs will rise to the occasion. I've been messaging Fadlu before every match since January, sending him good luck messages, and I've also been messaging Bartlett since January, but this past weekend I didn't message them because both teams are very close to my heart. Before the PSL (topflight) season ended, I was hoping that Maritzburg completely avoided the play-offs, but unfortunately it didn't happen. Without trying to sound like Steve Komphela, but if you swim in dangerous waters a lot of the time, eventually you are going to drown. As much as Maritzburg were good to me as their player, but if you are lingering in the relegation zone year in and year out, maybe a year or so in the Motsepe Foundation Championship is not bad thing for them.
