Maritzburg, Spurs set for do-or-die clash

Heading into the final PSL promotion play-off fixture this week, Maritzburg United will host Cape Town Spurs at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday evening, with the Urban Warriors requiring a point to gain promotion to the PSL.

As it stands, Spurs lead the way on the PSL promotion play-off table, after recording three wins from three games during the mini-tournament. The Team of Choice trail Spurs by three points in second spot and will need maximum points to ensure their spot in the 2023/24 PSL roster.

Martizburg head into the tie on the back of a crucial 2-0 win over Casric Stars this past weekend and subsequently kept up with the pace set by the Urban Warriors.

Reflecting on the fixture at hand, Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids lauded the club’s fans for their unwavering support this season and made the plea to fill up the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday.

“They came behind us, they lifted the team,” Davids said.

“You know to travel all this way, to fill up two busses, it’s unbelievable.”

“They have been our driving force this entire season, we’ve let them down on many occasions. Thirty points, not making it on goal difference, we conceded in the last minute so many times, that was points that would have kept us alive.

“They’ve been with us through everything and now to travel here, it’s unbelievable.

“I plea now to them, who travelled here, to bring your family and lets fill up Harry Gwala Stadium.”

The Urban Warriors have been immaculate during their promotion play-off bid and picked up three wins on the spin. In their opening fixture, Spurs recorded a 1-0 win against Casric Stars at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on the 28th of May.

Thereafter, the Urban Warriors bagged an impressive 1-0 victory against the Team of Choice at the Athlone Stadium on the 3rd of June.

Then, in what was one of the club’s toughest encounters this season, a 10-man Spurs outfit limped to a 1-0 victory against Casric Stars at home, as they go into the final play-off game in the driving seat.

Speaking on the result, a visibly emotional Shaun Bartlett praised his side’s resilience throughout the campaign and mentioned that Spurs are used to overcoming hardships.

“There was a lot of emotion going through me after [the match]. Obviously, with what happened throughout the game itself,” Bartlett said.

“More than what the players gave on the field, I couldn’t ask for. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but obviously, when you go a man down, these guys will tell you, we have gone through it three or four times.

“We have always managed to win games, and that again shows the perseverance and resilience of the squad and what we have gone through the whole season. Especially with what happened on the last day against AmaTuks.

“At the end of the day, we had to pick ourselves up and regroup and start playing in the playoffs. In all three games, everybody keeps talking about goal difference. If we win games, sometimes that will not matter.”