“Super Proud!” — Pupuma

Milford coach Xanti Pupuma was left nearly speechless with pride after his side officially secured a coveted spot in the PSL promotion and relegation playoffs.

The coastal outfit battled to a hard-fought goalless draw against Hungry Lions in Sunday’s Motsepe Foundation Championship season finale.

Milford entered the final matchday sitting second on the table but slipped to third after Cape Town City thumped Leicesterford City 4–2 at the Dobsonville Stadium.

With league champions Kruger United having wrapped up automatic top-flight promotion with several games to spare, the intense focus shifted entirely to the race for second and third place.

Those two spots earn the right to battle the team finishing 15th in the Betway Premiership for a place in the elite tier next season.

“We are super proud of the boys,” said Pupuma on the club’s website.

“It was very, very difficult, but we always knew it was going to be tough. We made things difficult for ourselves by not taking our chances.

“But in this division, every away game is tough. You take whatever you can get. We are grateful for the point, and it doesn’t matter whether we finish second or third. As long as we are in the playoffs, we will get another opportunity with the four playoff matches.”

The identity of Milford’s top-flight playoff opponent will be decided this coming Saturday when the Betway Premiership wraps up its final round with simultaneous kick-offs.

Orbit College currently occupies that perilous 15th position on the elite log. Pogiso Mokhoye’s side faces a monumental final assignment as they host an Orlando Pirates side scenting blood, desperate to snatch the Betway Premiership title from the grasp of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Just like the Buccaneers, Orbit College must win at all costs on Saturday while praying that other results go their way across the country. Ironically, Orbit earned their top-flight status through these exact playoffs just last season.