Free State Stars’ players slumped to the turf and others shed tears openly after the goalless draw against Dynamos at Giyani Stadium on Sunday afternoon ensured their relegation from the PSL.
It was a hasty and bitterly ironic return to the Mvela League for the bottom-of-the-log Free State team, who only regained premier-division status last year after selling their franchise to the PSL two seasons ago for a reputed R8-million in an initiative that was designed to reduce the league from 18 to 16 teams.
A noisy, relieved Dynamos clan, in contrast, revelled in the implications of a draw that ensured their team retaining PSL status after Classic and Bush Bucks drew their matches against Moroka Swallows and Santos respectively.
In a tense, tantalising programme involving the four relegation candidates, Free State Stars, Dynamos, Classic and Bush Bucks all approached their matches with the prospect of relegation staring them in the face.
Now, apart from Free State Stars’ automatic relegation and the promotion from the Mvela League of Wits University, Bush Bucks face an uneasy play-off for the final 16th position in next season’s PSL with the teams finishing second, third and fourth in the Mvela League.
If effort alone was the criterion of an entertaining soccer game, Sunday’s clash at Giyani Stadium would have earned full marks. But the importance of the occasion had both teams performing with a conspicuous degree of nervous anxiety — which, by and large, negated the prospect of either of them scoring.
Free State Stars, however, looked the livelier combination and enjoyed a distinct territorial disadvantage — earning an added degree of sympathy for their whole-hearted effort.
Free State Stars’ tricky Jimmy Kauleza generally looked the most likely player on the field to score, but when presented with a golden opportunity in the 36th minute his shot from point-blank range was deflected over the crossbar.
Swallows, Classic draw
Moroka Swallows and Tembisa Classic played to a 1-1 draw in a fast and entertaining Premier Soccer League (PSL) game played at the Herman Immelman Stadium in Germiston on Sunday afternoon. Classic led 1-0 at the break.
Five minutes before half-time, Classic midfielder David Makgale received a well-struck pass from striker Collin Zimba and quickly struck the ball into the goal with his left foot to putt the visitors into the lead.
Moroka Swallows tried hard up front to penetrate the solid Classic defence, but could not get the ball into the net in the opening stanza.
In the second half, Swallows coach Gavin Hunt introduced three players to strengthen his midfield and the move paid dividends.
Hunt pulled off Cecil Oerson for Mark McVeigh and Edsau Kasinauyo for Tsweu Mokoro respectively at half-time and then, in the 63rd minute, brought on Bongani Mbhele to replace striker Dennis Lota.
Mokoro was the man who equalised for the Beautiful Birds in the 70th minute with a low shot, beating Classic goalkeeper Aime Kitenge easily in the far-left corner.
The man who made the goal was Senegalese international Mame Niang, who flicked a header to Mokoro.
Bucks gain point
Bush Bucks gained a valuable point when they drew 1-1 against Santos in a PSL match played at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday. There was no score at half-time.
The visitors attacked from the start and in the fourth minute they came close to opening the scoring when Fisher Kondowe’s shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Wayne Roberts.
A minute later Roberts was on hand again to save a strike from James Chamanga, who minutes later failed to find the back of the net with Roberts out of his goals.
With the visitors applying all the pressure, it was the home side who struck first in the 53rd minute. Bucks goalkeeper Tampungu Dikete failed to hold on to the ball from a corner kick and Musa Otino took full advantage to blast the ball into the net.
Bucks hit back quickly and equalised in the 62nd minute when substitute Phikolethu Spelman headed home a cross.
Both teams went all out for the winner but both defences held out.
Arrows in top eight
Lamontville Golden Arrows cemented their place in the top eight when they beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0 in a PSL encounter played at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Sunday afternoon.
There was no score at half-time.
Abafana Bes’thende’s goal was scored by Thokozani ”Mzekezeke” Mshengu in the 71st minute. Cosmos’ Mamadou Diallo and Calvin Kadi had a chance of equalising but squandered their opportunities.
Arrows end the season on 40 points and in sixth spot with Cosmos finishing in eighth.
No Super Eight for Bloem Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Silver Stars in Bloemfontein on Sunday but failed to secure a spot in next season’s Super Eight competition.
Celtic reached 37 league points with the draw at the Seisa Ramabodou Stadium but very nearly did not get that point after trailing 0-1 at the break.
However, Celtic’s Moses Spandeel was the hero scoring his 11th league goal to share the spoils. — Sapa