De Sa Optimistic About Saving CT City’s Topflight Status
Cape Town City assistant coach Roger de Sa is confident of retaining the club’s Betway Premiership status despite being unable to register a win in their first two matches of the PSL Promotional/Relegation playoffs.
The Citizens suffered a major blow in their last outing against Casric Stars on Wednesday as they surrendered a 1-0 lead to settle for a share of the spoils after Sphamandla MLilo calmly slotted home from the spot with the last kick of the game in Kwa Mhlanga.
As a result, the Cape club is at the top of the mini log with two points from as many games. However, with the playoffs lacking ample goalmouth action, all three teams are level on points and goal difference, keeping the race wide open.
De Sa, who was involved in a heated exchange with his counterpart, Bucs Mthombeni in the opposing dugout, sees their standing at the summit as a silver lining. The 60-year-old tactician urged his troops to remain calm, dispelling panic in their camp.
“It’s expected [for tempers to flare], it’s playoff time, everybody is playing for everything, and emotions are very high. So, it happens that way, a penalty with the last kick of the game, everybody thinks about everything that’s going on,” he told SuperSport TV after the match.
“It happens that way, but we have to calm down, and we’ve got a good point away from home, and they have to come to us [in Cape Town], so we are in it. I saw the log now; we are on top. So, hopefully we can push through.”
On the cutthroat business of fighting against the drop through playoffs, the former Orlando Pirates coach made an honest admission that the battle for a spot in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign is gruesome.
“Yes [these playoffs are unpredictable] and long, very much into the next season as well. It is unpredictable, and I think most playoffs are usually like that. I think it’s two teams that are coming off a high and a team from the Premiership that’s coming off a low,” he added.
“So, we have to get over it and put ourselves in a position to stay up, and right now we are there. It’s two or three games to go for us, and let’s see how it goes.”
City, who are involved in the mini league by a dismal 15th-place finish in the top-flight last season, will swing back into action with a trip to Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg, where they are set to face Orbit College on Wednesday, 25 June.
