Eric Tinkler refuses to give up fighting for survival until it is mathematically impossible for Maritzburg United to achieve Absa Premiership safety, but admits they let themselves down this weekend.
The Team of Choice remained four points away from 15th-placed Free State Stars following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Highlands Park, and now have just four games left to try and maintain their status in South Africa’s top-flight.
Only eight of the 16 teams in the Absa Premiership have conceded less goals than Maritzburg this season (28), however it has been their goalscoring prowess – or lack thereof – that has caused them the biggest problems. After 26 games they’ve scored just 16 goals, the lowest return in the division.
Speaking after the loss to the Lions of the North, Tinkler was quoted by the club’s official Twitter account as saying, "We have four very important games and we need points. We will continue fighting, I will continue fighting, until it is mathematically not possible, but today we let ourselves down and all of us need to take responsibility for that."
Maritzburg face Orlando Pirates at home, Black Leopards away and SuperSport United at home before travelling to Baroka in what could be a huge game on the final day of the season, and will need to really up their game if they’re going to pull off the ‘Great Escape’.
