Alarm bells ring softly for NRB
Richards Bay FC could theoretically be in danger of finding themselves in the league's dungeon
NOT only have some shocking decisions by match officials denied mid-table Richards Bay FC the chance of moving into the top third of the GladAfrica NFD Championship log, but they could theoretically be in danger of finding themselves in the league’s dungeon.
With all 16 teams having four games and a possible 12 points remaining, mathematically Richards Bay could even end up in the relegation places.
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This is highly unlikely, as it would require them to lose all their remaining fixtures while those at the bottom would have to get maximum points to overtake them.
But, as I say, it is possible on paper, for two contrasting reasons.
One has to do with what happens on the field.
Tiredness, demotivation, missed chances, errors and – yes – poor decisions could translate into a calamitous run that yields no points.
I can’t see that happening and I’m confident that NRB will bag at least eight of the 12 points they will play for.
They were as good as log leaders Ajax in the game they lost by a single goal, and better than TS Sporting in their 2-2 draw.
In fact, if they secure the maximum 12 points they could have a top six place!
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But it’s the other reason that most bothers me: the shenanigans that happen off the field.
Remember the 2012/2013 season when Thanda Royal Zulu played three fewer games than the rest of the clubs and were thus denied PSL promotion?
Strange things happen in soccer’s sneaky second tier.
Teams that have hardly won a game suddenly beat the top sides.
Disciplined squads suddenly make a ton of errors.
Blatant penalties are given and denied.
Diving and deliberate hand balls are par for the course.
The passing of brown envelopes and doing of favours is as rife as in state capture circles.
Let’s hope that in a year decimated by Covid-19 that both the up and down ends of the league – promotion and relegation – will be decided fairly and squarely: on the field of play.
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