Big win for Spurs, Magesi falter

There have been significant changes in the battle to beat relegation from the DStv Premiership and the race for promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship over the past few days.

We round up the contenders to come up … and go down.

PROMOTION FROM THE MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP

MAGESI FC

Matches played: 26

Points / goal-difference: 49 / +13

A 2-0 home loss to Maritzburg United ended an 11-game unbeaten run (W8 D3) for coach Clinton Larsen’s side but the damage was not too great, with second-placed University of Pretoria only drawing. Limpopo-based Magesi still have a four-point lead with four games to go and it is theirs to lose. They have the second-most number of goals in the league (36) and the second-best defence (23 conceded) but occupy first place.

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

Matches played: 26

Points / goal-difference: 45 / +8

AmaTuks could not fully take advantage of that slip-up by Magesi as they were held to a 0-0 draw at lowly Venda, who sit in the relegation zone. That is part of a frustrating run that has seen the club take a single point from their last three games to really hurt their automatic promotion hopes. They have the best defence in the division (17 goals conceded) but only 25 goals scored in 26 games, which is the 13th-best record (out of 16 teams) and that is where they have been let down. It was evident again at the weekend.

JDR STARS

Matches played: 26

Points / goal-difference: 41 / +3

JDR Stars got back to winning ways with a crucial 1-0 success at Casric Stars on Sunday to move into third place and the second promotion playoff position. They head the form table in the division, having taken 16 from the last 18 available to shoot up the table and into contention for the playoffs. They may have left it a little late to chase down Magesi. They have been down this road before and often there or thereabouts for the playoffs, but have never quite managed to get over the line. This may be another of those times.

BAROKA FC

Matches played: 26

Points / goal-difference: 39 / +6

Baroka FC remain in the frame for the playoffs, boosted by an important 2-1 win at Hungry Lions this weekend, no easy place to go and get a result. They are the joint fourth-highest scorers this season but have been hampered by too many draws – nine from their 26 games. Even turning four of those draws into wins would have allowed them to be right in the mix. They have a tough run-in and must face JDR Stars (home) and AmaTuks (away) in their final two games of the season.

MARITZBURG UNITED

Matches played: 26

Points / goal-difference: 38 / +9

Four wins in their last five games have seen coach Simo Dladla’s side storm up the table and into contention for the playoffs. Their excellent 2-0 win at Magesi was an illustration of their quality and the work being done by Dladla. Their +9 goal difference could also be worth an extra point at this stage of the season and if they can finish strong, they have every chance of making the playoffs and engineering a quick return to the top flight following last season’s relegation. Their run-in is pretty good, bar a potentially crucial away trip to JDR Stars on the final day of the campaign.

RELEGATION FROM THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP

CAPE TOWN SPURS

Matches played: 25

Points / goal-difference: 15 / -22

Spurs gave themselves a chance with a crucial 1-0 win over second-bottom Richards Bay at the weekend to end a four-game losing streak. It is probably still a long shot, but defeat, or even a draw, and their fate would likely have been sealed. Three of their final five games are away, with trips to Royal AM, SuperSport United and Lamontville Golden Arrows to go with home games against Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs. They probably need in the region of 10 points from those as a minimum.

RICHARDS BAY

Matches played: 25

Points / goal-difference: 20 / -14

Richards Bay looked to be on the up until their defeat at Spurs, which will have been a real psychological blow. This is not just in terms of looking over their shoulder, as a win could have taken them to within three points of safety. They also have three away games left, and a very tough run-in. After hosting stubborn AmaZulu, they travel to Polokwane City, Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City, before finishing at home to in-form Stellenbosch. They may not win any of those.

MOROKA SWALLOWS

Matches played: 25

Points / goal-difference: 26 / -10

The Birds’ mini-revival is well and truly over after no wins in four (D2 L2) and a defeat at TS Galaxy this weekend. Have they already done enough for survival? Probably, but they will want one more win in their final five games to be sure. They have five tough fixtures, but a home game against Royal AM on the final day of the campaign provides a chance for three points.

ROYAL AM

Matches played: 24

Points / goal-difference: 29 / -15

Conventional wisdom says Royal AM need just one more point to be safe and with six games remaining, they should get that somewhere along the line. But a 4-0 home loss to Orlando Pirates will have dented confidence somewhat. Their squad has creaked under a Fifa transfer ban that shows no sign of being lifted and that could spell trouble for them in the new campaign too. But they have probably done enough to play top-flight football in 2024-25.

POLOKWANE CITY

Matches played: 25

Points / goal-difference: 30 / -8

The promoted side have followed the same path as just about every club that has come up from the second tier in recent times. A strong first half of the season as the adrenaline pumps through them and the novelty of DStv Premiership football gives them extra energy, followed by a poor second half of the campaign as those factors wear off. They should have done enough to be safe, but one win in eight games (D3 L4) and a 5-0 hammering at Stellenbosch FC at the weekend suggests the end of the season can’t come soon enough.