PSL promotion playoffs draw confirmed
The PSL have confirmed the official promotional/relegation playoffs draw on Tuesday evening, with three teams vying for a coveted spot in the DStv Premiership.
The playoffs kick off on Sunday, 02 June, and conclude on Wednesday, 19 June, marking the culmination of the season’s fight for promotion to the top league.
AmaTuks [the University of Pretoria], who finished second and Baroka FC, who finished third in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, will battle it out with a DStv Premiership club that will finish at position 15.
As it stands, Richards Bay FC are in position 15 with 27 points after 29 matches. They will be hoping that Royal AM drops points against Moroka Swallows and they win against Stellenbosch FC to avoid the play-offs.
HOW THE PSL PROMOTION PLAYOFFS DRAW PROCEDURE WORKED
The three clubs were allocated as follows: club one is the one that finished 15th in the DStv Premiership. Clubs two and three are the two Motsepe Foundation Championship sides.
FULL FIXTURE LIST:
Sunday, 02 June: AmaTuks v Baroka FC [DStv Prem Club – bye]
Wednesday, 5 June: DStv Premiership Club v AmaTuks, [CLUB2 – bye]
Saturday, 8 June: Baroka FC v DStv Premiership Club, [CLUB3 – bye]
Wednesday, 12 June: Baroka FC v AmaTuks, [DStv Premiership Club – bye]
Saturday, 15 June: AmaTuks v DStv Premiership Club, [CLUB2 – bye]
Wednesday, 19 June: DStv Premiership Club v Baroka FC, [CLUB3 – bye].
HOW THE MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP COACHES ARE PLANNING FOR THE CRUCIAL GAMES
The University of Pretoria coach, Tlisane Motaung, insists they are well prepared for Baroka and whoever they face from the DStv Premiership.
“Obviously, Baroka is a team with pedigree. A coach with pedigree, a Man who has contributed a lot in South African Football, producing quality players,” he said.
“Playing a good brand of football and we know what we are up against, and also, whichever team from the PSL are not in the PSL by fluke. They are going to come here and compete. But equally, we knew that when we get to the playoffs, any opponent that we are going to face will be tough. We have to be prepared.”
Baroka coach Dan Malesela says he also has a plan in place for the upcoming playoffs.
“Fortunately, as I was sitting during the week, on Thursday. I started thinking about this thing [playoffs], and I said you also don’t underestimate things,” added Malesela.
“You should start planning now. Eventually, I started planning around the playoffs, and I asked myself why the other teams struggled when it came to the playoffs once they got to the PSL. Why did other teams not win the playoffs?
“So I started looking at what I could do and what I could not do. I can not reveal that now because it’s our plan.”
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