University of Pretoria aim to capitalise on their homeground advantage and take the fight to the favoured Richards Bay in their all-important Premier Soccer League (PSL) relegation/promotion playoffs clash in the country’s capital.
The Students host Richards Bay in a match that has the potential to decide the eventual winners in the race for the last remaining spot in the DStv Premiership at Tuks Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Natal Rich Boyz, who will be away from home, head into the clash holding the advantage to retain their lucrative top-tier status.
The top-of-the-table Richards Bay need just a victory against Tuks to confirm their place in the big-time for next season.
The men from KwaZulu-Natal are on four points with two games to play in the mini-league while Tuks have accumulated the same number of points ahead of their last game on Saturday.
Bottom-placed Baroka FC have managed two points and have just one more game to play against the Vusumuzi Vilakazi-coached Natal Rich Boyz.
Tuks need a victory at all costs this weekend to stay in the race for promotion and still hope coach Morgan Mammila’s Baroka does them a huge favour in the last game by avoiding a defeat at Bay.
The Students’ head coach Tlisane Motaung sounded confident of the victory against a fired-up Bay side at home.
“We still have one match that we are playing at home against Richards Bay, it won’t be easy. We have to go in and fight. It’s now or never,” said Motaung.
“We find ourselves in this situation and the only thing we need in the next game at home is three points.
“At least we have a home-ground advantage, and we will take it from there.”
With just a single win in the past three outings, Motaung is encouraged by his side’s ability to create chances.
“If we become clinical in those moments, we are good enough. Defensively, we always make one schoolboy error, and get punished,” he said.
During their last meeting early this month, Bay secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Tuks in Durban, thanks to a goal by Somila Ntsundwana.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
🔵 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 🔵
— Richards Bay FC (@RichardsBayFC_) June 12, 2024
🏆 #PSLPromotionalPlayoffs
📅 Saturday,15 June 2024
🆚 @AmaTuks
🏟 Tuks Stadium
🕒 15h00
📺 SS PSL & SABC 1#NatalRichBoyZ pic.twitter.com/ECtGPAt43X
