There is one final question remaining in the PSL’s Promotion/Relegation play-off equation and that is which of two teams in the DStv Premiership will finish in 15th place in the top division and feature in the post-season competition.
The two sides from the Motsepe Foundation Championship have been determined after the final day of the league phase in that competition, with the final line-up to be decided on Saturday.
Here is where we stand.
MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOTIOM PLAY-OFF PLACES
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
Matches played: 30
Points / goal-difference: 49 / +8
AmaTuks scraped into the playoffs despite taking only five points from the final 21 available in the season, all of them from draws. They finished eight points behind Magesi FC, who claim the automatic promotion place. They must get over that disappointment quickly though as they gear up for the play-offs. The Pretoria-based side had the best defence in the second-tier, conceding only 22 goals in 30 games, but managed to score only 30 themselves, the 11th-best record. Therein lies their issues. They last reached the play-offs at the end of the 2021-22 season but lost out to Moroka Swallows. They were relegated from the topflight via the play-offs in the 2015/16 campaign.
BAROKA FC
Matches played: 30
Points / goal-difference: 47 / +9
Baroka FC shot up the table on the back of three success wins but were held to draws in their final two games, the last of which was against AmaTuks. With JDR stars losing to Maritzburg United, the 1-1 draw was what both teams needed to reach the play-offs. They finished a point ahead of Maritzburg and Stars, and veteran coach Dan Malesela know what it takes to get them over the line and back into the DStv Premiership following their relegation at the end of 2021-22.
DSTV PREMIERSHIP RELEGATION PLAY-OFF PLACES
RICHARDS BAY
Matches played: 29
Points / goal-difference: 27 / -14
Some late season form that has seen them take 13 points from the last 21 available has secured Richards Bay’s safety from automatic relegation, but they still have work to do to clear the play-off position they currently occupy. They are two points behind Royal AM going into the final weekend with a home game against Stellenbosch FC, who have had a dip in form but are still chasing second place. They do have a superior goal-difference on Royal AM, so if they beat Stellies, the KwaZulu-Natal side will have to also get a win away at Moroka Swallows on the final day. Even if Richards Bay do end up in the play-offs, their recent form will give them hope they can navigate them under coach Vusi Vilakazi.
ROYAL AM
Matches played: 29
Points / goal-difference: 29 / -20
All their off-field mismanagement is coming home to roost with a squad hamstrung by a Fifa ban. They have taken two points from the last 21 available and have not managed a goal in their last six games. That is real relegation form. They have the second worst goal-difference in the league (-20) after bottom side Cape Town Spurs (-22), which also tells you something. This is a squad on life-support.