The PSL Relegation Scrap Heads Into the Final day

The Absa Premiership League is coming to an end on Saturday and fans across the country will be glued into their screens hoping for a favourable finish (for their club) or at least an entertaining one. The race for a title isn’t yet over as Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns are deadlocked on 53 points with Chiefs holding the advantage because of a superior goal difference.

But down at the bottom, the relegation battle intertwines with the league title on the final day. Firstly, Polokwane City are all but relegated to the GladAfrica Championship already unless they pull off a sizeable win against Bidvest Wits and then pray that Baroka FC loses to the title-chasing Amakhosi.

Relegation has a huge effect on clubs, not only in terms of status but more importantly on the players and financials. The Absa Premiership is a lucrative league and there will be no shortage of motivation to stay in it. So let’s take a look at the clubs in danger of potentially facing the drop, one of the clubs discussed below will join Ajax Cape Town and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC in the promotion/relegation playoffs which begins on Sunday.

Chippa United / 31 points / -9 GD

Chippa United are sitting in 12th spot with 31 points and their form in the last five matches includes two losses, two draws, and one win. A victory or draw against Golden Arrows will guarantee their PSL status because their goal difference is better than their immediate rivals. The Port Elizabeth based club will feel hard done by the referee’s decision in their most recent 1-0 loss against Kaizer Chiefs (they were also down to nine men) but they’ll feel confident ahead of Abafana Besthende’s, a team without a win in five matches.

Amazulu FC / 29 points / -13 GD

Amazulu FC suffered one loss, drew three, and won once in their last five matches in their battle to fight off relegation. The Durban based club is on 29 points and they face against Highlands Park, who are allegedly on the brink of being sold but did snap four-match winless streak after a 1-0 win against Cape Town City. The two clubs will enter the match with different motives, a win for Amazulu will guarantee them a top-flight football next season. But a loss or draw will means they have to rely on Black Leopards and Baroka FC losing their respective matches. Meanwhile, HIghlands Park needs a win to finish inside the top eight.

Black Leopards / 29 points / -14 GD

Black Leopards has done well in their last five games winning three and losing two and they now sitting on 29 points, same as Amazulu but are edged on goal difference. Last night, they pulled off a shocker by beating Bidvest Wits but the task gets even harder as they meet title-chasing Mamelodi Sundowns on the final day. A win for Leopards will guarantee them top-flight football. This promises to be a do or die match as both clubs have different objectives with very significant consequences for either club.

Baroka FC / 28 points / -9 GD

Baroka FC failed to build on a victory against Mamelodi Sundowns and suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Supersport United in their most recent match. The Limpopo based are on 28 points and in the worst starting position out their rivals heading into the final day. Also, they to secure a win against the log leaders Kaizer Chiefs and hope both Black Leopard and Amazulu are either losing or drawing in their respective matches. This is an enormous task as the Amakhosi need a victory to secure a first league title in five years. But Chiefs have been worryingly inconsistent in the title run-in winning just one match in five matches.