SuperSport retain their Betway Premiership status

SuperSport United have retained their Betway Premiership status following a 1–1 draw against Golden Arrows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday. 

The fixture resumed with just 45 minutes of the second half to be played, after the original match was abandoned three months ago due to a power failure.

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On that occasion, Christian Saile had handed United an early lead in the fourth minute, before Velemseni Ndwandwe drew Arrows level. The match was initially set to mark Gavin Hunt’s milestone of 1,000 games in charge in South Africa’s top-flight football. 

However, the veteran coach was dismissed in March after a string of disappointing results, with Andre Arendse taking over the reins on an interim basis. 

Needing only a point to steer clear of the relegation play-offs, SuperSport approached the rescheduled encounter with caution. 

The Tshwane-based outfit were content to concede possession, defending deep in their own half for much of the match.  Arrows struggled to break down a well-organised United side that was clearly playing for a draw.

Aside from half-chances for Samir Nurković and substitute Bradley Grobler, SuperSport offered little going forward in a largely uneventful second half. The result sees SuperSport finish 14th on the log with 27 points from the revised 28-game season. 

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Cape Town City also conclude their campaign on 27 points, but Arendse’s charges edge them due to a superior goal difference. On the other hand, Arrows end their campaign in 12th position on the log standings, and two points outside the top eight. Manqoba Mngqithi’s team needed to win by an avalanche of goals to boost their chances of sneaking into the top half of the log.

Royal AM expulsion from the premiership means that they are essentially relegated as the league finishes with 15 teams. 

Barring any legal disputes, The Citizens will now contest the relegation play-off mini-league against ORBIT College and Casric Stars who finished second and third respectively in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Durban City, have secured automatic promotion to the elite tier of South African football.