CT City fight for survival as play-offs begin

HISTORICALLY, the balance of power has often tipped in favour of the PSL teams during the dreaded PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. This season's three-team mini-tournament, initially scheduled to start at the end of last month, will now kick off on Wednesday in Rustenburg.

- HERMAN GIBBS

The play-offs were postponed due to unresolved issues in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, involving Durban City, JDR Stars, and Cape Town Spurs. As a result, the league's restructuring has now set the stage for the two National First Division (NFD) teams — Casric Stars and Orbit College — from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to begin their campaign later this week.

Casric Stars, a Mpumalanga-based club, finished third, while Orbit College, based in Rustenburg, finished runners-up to NFD winners Durban City FC.

Over the past decade, top-flight PSL sides have managed to retain their league status in six of the past 10 seasons. Four seasons saw teams from the NFD secure promotion via these play-offs.