Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has once revealed that the league has refused to move their game on the same date as their relegation competitors, saying they’re left bitterly “disappointed” by the decision.
Amadou Soukouna lost a few Stellies defenders before rifling into the top corner to see the Maritzburg record their seventh league win of the season and fourth at home.
It was a welcome result for Maritzburg as the difference in goal difference between them and Chippa, who are sitting second from bottom, has now shrunk to one goal.
Maritzburg has to win or get a point against Sundowns and hope Chippa and Marumo Gallants, who are both equal number on 29 points – with the latter lying 14th – both lose to survive.
“It has been a tough season, undoubtedly,” said Kadodia after the game on Saturday.
“We never took off on the right foot, we have been in this battle for the whole season. I think a lot of games were inflicted by us, the mistakes at the back and two points against Marumo Gallants [where we drew 2-2], it was like gold because we should have secured those three points.
“But nevertheless, God is right with us. We need to fight, fight against Sundowns and see what comes out of that. We can’t come away with nothing in that game.
“The important thing is that I firmly believe that we will fight until the end. Whatever the outcome in the following weekend, it’s another issue.”
Another outcome could be that Maritzburg lose themselves against Sundowns, but Chippa would lose by a two-goal bigger margin vs Golden Arrows.
However, Maritzburg are up against it as they have not defeated Sundowns away since match-day three of the 2012/13 season. On the other hand, Sundowns are looking to finish on the high and break the league tally to make it 72 points, surpassing their own of 2015/16 season (71).
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Kadodia also confirmed that they have written to the league to see all the matches played simultaneously, as reported by this publication a few days ago, but the league has rejected them. It means that Chippa and Gallants will know what scoreline they will need to escape relegation, with Maritzburg playing four days ahead of the them.
“We have been disappointed as we made a request to the league to play all matches together – Gallants, Chippa and our game together, but they refused us,” said a bitterly disappointed Kadodia.
“After our game, everything has been left loose on whatever the result to come and that is a bit of a concern.”
Sundowns can’t play the game on Saturday as they will be hosting Wydad Athletic Club in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final on the same day the league will be concluding.
In turn, the PSL put Maritzburg’s game against Sundowns forward to Tuesday.
