GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE battle to avoid relegation looks set to go the wire with all the sides placed in the bottom four still to battle against each other.
While Limpopo side, Baroka FC, and fellow newcomers Highlands were pre-season candidates to be chopped, Free State Stars and Chippa United
have been sucked in to the relegation dogfight.
Highlands Park are rock bottom at 22 points while Baroka occupy the playoff spot at 15th with a point more.
Free State Stars are 14th with the same number of points but with a better goal difference.
Baroka are however banking on a game in hand but that pits them against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who are chasing a record-bettering eighth title. The sides battle at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Chippa are also in danger, sitting fourth-bottom on 24 points after a horrible turn of form in recent weeks.
With two points separating the bottom four each team will treat every game as a final.
All the four troubled sides will take on one of their direct rivals at
least once, with Chippa playing Highlands at the weekend and Baroka facing
Highlands next Wednesday.
Free State Stars playing host to Chippa on the final matchday on May 27.
The side relegated from the elite league will make way for Thanda Royal Zulu, who have won the national first division. The side that finishes 15th in the Premier Soccer League will play two sides that finishes second and third in the first division.
– CAJ News