from DION HENRICK in Cape Town
Western Cape Bureau
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – HOW the mighty have fallen in the South African Premiership.
A few matches before the most lucrative league in Africa draws to a conclusion, two of the most iconic league teams in the Betway Premiership are caught in a relegation quagmire.
Beset by administration issues, Royal AM are rooted at the bottom and have been expelled from the topflight and they are excluded.
The bottom side is relegated and Royal AM are automatic candidates for the axe, but the 15th-placed in the elite league contends with two sides from the first division for the remaining berth.
At the time of publication, SuperSport United occupied the dreaded 15th spot with 23 points from a similar number of games.
A usual contender in the league and cup competitions, Cape Town City have a point more and six games more.
Both are among the most professionally-run entities but results have not been generous, with Cape Town City axing Erick Tinkler while SuperSport United dismissed head coach Gavin Hunt.
Not so long ago, Hunt was guiding United to multiple league titles and Tinker underlined himself as one of the most sought-after coaches.
However, both are paying the price of selling their best players to rival teams every season.
Elsewhere, the most-supported team, Kaizer Chiefs is struggling on eighth, almost ten years without a trophy and with more sanctions than an accolade over the decade of shame.
At the top, it is a two horse-race again between holders, Mamelodi Sundowns, and perennial challengers, Orlando Pirates.
Downs are on 58 points and Pirates on 46 with the same in hand.
Both are in the semifinals of the Confederation of African Football Champions League, fixtures coming against Egyptian rivals Al Ahly and Pyramids this coming weekend but a league match and Nedbank Cup final awaits Chiefs and Pirates.
– CAJ News