NEWS: John Maduka insists Royal AM to fight in battle to remain in DStv Premiership

With a disappointing five consecutive losses, Royal AM is hovering dangerously close to the relegation playoff place.

Currently, Royal AM are just two points above the dreaded 15th spot in the standings, occupied by Richards Bay. Their most recent defeat to champions-elect Mamelodi Sundowns by 2-0 on Tuesday, has only added to the pressure.

With just two games to play, Royal AM remain under immense pressure to steer clear of the dreaded drop zone.

“It has been a long season and it becomes difficult towards the end of the season because these players are not used to playing a lot of games in one season,” Maduka told members of the media.

“There is not a lot that we can do, but we are positive that we are not going to go to the playoffs. The players were talking about it, saying that there is something that they don’t want, which is to go to the playoffs.

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“We saw with Cape Town Spurs, it is not like it was a bad team, but after the playoffs and they come and play in the DStv Premiership games, it is not easy,” Maduka said.

The 53-year-old remains optimistic, however, believing in his team’s ability to turn things around.

“Our thinking is that we are positive that we are not going to go there. It is still in our hands, we have two games to play. It’s going to be difficult games, of course,” Maduka added.

“We have a home game against Chippa United and it is one that we have to win. We can’t wait for others to do it for us, we can do it ourselves. We have a two-point difference and two games left.”

On Saturday, Royal AM will go head-to-head with Chippa United at Harry Gwala Stadium. Then their final game of the 2023/24 season will be against Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium on May 25th.

The team that ends up in 15th place in the DStv Premiership will be joined by the clubs finishing second and third in the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC). This will be decided after the MFC concludes this upcoming weekend.