Thrilling relegation scrap looms as Betway Premiership nears dramatic conclusion

The battle for Betway Premiership survival looks set to be a dog-eat-dog affair as the 2024/25 season draws to a close — and few would have correctly predicted the clubs involved in the fight.

The expulsion of Royal AM from the elite league means there will be no club automatically relegated, but one will still have to fight for its status via the tough play-offs against two clubs from the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

SuperSport United are currently propping up the table and thus occupy the play-off spot. Along with the club directly above them, the former three-time league champions are a side in trouble.

Cape Town City are a mere point ahead of Matsatsantsa a Pitori, having played two matches more. Of course, matches in hand are not a guarantee of points, and SuperSport must still earn their keep.

Intriguingly, the two teams have a similar run-in, with Matsatsantsa set to play all four of the clubs that City are also due to face.

The Citizens have a six-pointer against Richards Bay this coming Friday — the two teams are equal on 23 points, but the Natal Rich Boys sit above on goal difference and have also played one match fewer than the Capetonians, who have just four fixtures remaining.

It is City’s form that would have the punters backing them for the play-offs. The club from the Mother City are winless in their last 11 league matches — a wretched run that saw them part ways with coach Muhsin Ertugral. They will likely take inspiration from the fact that their last victory was against their next opponents, having beaten Richards Bay 2–1 on 17 January.

Perhaps most worrying for Peral and his assistant Roger De Sá will be their remaining matches, all of which are against clubs playing for something tangible. After Richards Bay, City host defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns on May 4, followed by a tricky away trip to Polokwane City, a side still in contention for third place — which brings with it continental participation.

Their final match sees them host Stellenbosch FC, who have an even better chance of finishing third and, given their incredible run in the continent’s second-tier competition — where they are in the semi-finals — you can bet Stellies will want to return next season.

SuperSport must play all those four clubs, as well as title-chasing Orlando Pirates, while they await the league’s decision on their match against Golden Arrows, which was abandoned before the start of the second half due to floodlight failure at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in mid-February.

The match was tied at 1–1 when officials called it off, but there is every possibility that SuperSport could be punished for having failed to provide a generator, as per the rules.

Everyone's favourite for the drop, rookies Magesi, are in a much better position, enjoying a two-point lead over both City and Richards Bay, and three over SuperSport. Of their remaining five matches, those against Pirates and Sundowns will be the toughest, but they will fancy their chances against TS Galaxy, Sekhukhune United, and Marumo Gallants — all of whom they host at their fortress, Seshego Stadium, where they remain unbeaten.

With 25 points, Golden Arrows are also not out of the woods yet — but they have a massive eight matches to play, and that should be enough for them to collect points and avoid finishing 15th.

We are in for a thrilling finale in the battle for Betway Premiership survival.