Bruce Grobbelaar has saved several teams from the big drop but can he rescue Hellenic?
Ntuthuko Maphumulo
Green Point stadium in Cape Town will be the centre of attention this weekend when Hellenic fight it out with Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Orlando Pirates.
At stake will be three points that could help one team avoid the chop from the league and the other to successfully defend the title.
Pirates will be looking to close the eight-point gap between them and log leaders Santos.
Hellenic have been mired in the relegation zone since they were thrashed 0-7 by Manning Rangers in their first game of the season.
Since then, they have won just three games, with three draws and a total of 12 defeats. The Greek Gods or their Earthly representatives have not been pleased. Coach Steve Haupt was axed and his replacement, Mark Byrne, has also made way for a man rapidly making his name as the saviour of teams in trouble: Bruce Grobbelaar.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper saved Seven Stars from relegation in the 1998/99 season.
He then took charge of Supersport in 1999/2000, lifting them from 17th to finish the season in a comfortable 10th spot.
Chairman George Hadjidakis owner of the 7-11 chain had decided to offload the troubled club, but he’s taken down the “For Sale” signs and is looking to Grobbelaar to wield his magic.
The man known as the “Clown Prince” in his Anfield days regards the task as no laughing matter but he’s confident he can pull off another escape act.
“We are not looking at relegation but looking to build the team for next season in the PSL.” He’s also getting out the big stick. Big-headed players who did not take the field against Ria Stars will be transfer listed.
Grobbelaar admits the game against Pirates will be “very, very hard”, but he can take solace from the fact that Hellenic seem to fancy playing the top clubs.
In their first-round match against Sundowns they won 1-0 and they also scalped Kaizer Chiefs 2-1.
While Hellenic fight relegation, Pirates are looking to emulate Sundowns, who won the title three times in a row. But Pirates have had their share of problems, too, losing coach Gordon Igesund before the season began and having to call in Augusto Palacios who has guided them through a few rough patches as caretaker.
With Palacios at the helm in their opening game they beat Bush Bucks 2-0, but last week under new permanent coach Jean Yves Kerjean they drew with the same team 2-2.
Pirates have two games in hand and will be hoping to get three points from each of them in order to close the gap. But games in hand do not necessarily mean points in the bag Chiefs can testify to that.
Pirates won the corresponding fixture earlier in the season 1-0 despite a great display from the Hellenic players, and the Capetonians must have some hope of overturning the result this time around. Both coaches are under enormous pressure from supporters and management to deliver despite having put some inexperienced players on the pitch.
In other weekend games Amazulu might feel the backlash from Moroka Swallows who had their wings clipped 3-0 by Sundowns last week while fellow relegation candidates Classic take on Jomo Cosmos, who have slid alarmingly down the table after challenging for honours early on.
Black Leopards, who’ve also suffered recent setbacks, will be out to avenge their defeat by Sundowns earlier in the season and brush off their 1-4 loss to Santos last week.
Free State Stars will fight it out with the Clever Boys, Wits University, who this week signed a three-year sponsorship worth R5-million from Bidvest, with R500 000 dangled as a carrot for the players if they win the league title.