The sun could set on Cape Town City’s chances of securing automatic safety if they fail to beat Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
City are languishing in the hazardous 15th spot on the Betway Premiership log with just 23 points, heading into the final two games of the season. As a result, they must keep their slim hopes of survival alive by winning both of their remaining fixtures, including the iKapa Derby against Stellenbosch on the final day.
Failure to do so will leave them facing the gruelling promotion/relegation play-offs next month.
Two weeks to go with everything to play for. Let’s finish strong.#iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/yQVZfH3vjV
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) May 12, 2025
City find themselves in the play-off spot behind Golden Arrows and SuperSport United due to inferior points, games in hand, and goal difference. As such, should Arrows and United win their respective matches against Richards Bay and Stellenbosch over the weekend, and City drop points, it would confirm City’s participation in the play-offs.
Chairman John Comitis is already losing sleep over his team’s precarious position and has criticised the PSL for dragging their feet over a dispute involving SuperSport and Arrows.
A league clash between those two sides earlier this year was abandoned at half-time due to a power outage at the Lucas Moripe Stadium caused by load shedding. Since the match was halted due to force majeure rather than a man-made incident, such as vandalism or technical error, it is expected to be replayed from scratch at a rescheduled time and venue.
Both SuperSport and Arrows are viewing that match as a potential lifeline, as even a single point could prove vital in ensuring their top-flight survival next season.
Time to regroup, recharge and be ready to bounce back for our next challenge 🔵👊#iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/u32BFuhWjB
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) May 5, 2025
Comitis’s frustration with the PSL’s silence on the matter is understandable, but ultimately it won’t determine City’s fate.
The Citizens are in this dangerous position due to their own failings. The board erred in allowing Eric Tinkler to remain in charge for the first half of the season, despite poor results indicating he was out of his depth. Tinkler recorded just three wins, two draws and five losses in ten matches before being sacked on New Year’s Eve and replaced by Muhsin Ertugral.
Ertugral’s appointment, however, proved to be a short-lived fix.
His only success came in back-to-back wins against Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs before the team’s form declined once more. The side showed no meaningful improvement under the experienced, Turkiye-born coach, who has since been dismissed and ruled out of consideration for the sporting director role next season.
Diogo Peral has been installed as interim coach ahead of the new campaign, supported by Roger de Sá and Lebogang Manyama. However, the new coaching trio have endured a difficult start, managing just one draw and three consecutive defeats to Sekhukhune United, Richards Bay and Mamelodi Sundowns.
City must reverse their poor form and secure victory in Polokwane on Saturday to keep their hopes of automatic survival alive. But that will be no easy task.
Their squad depth is thin, and reports suggest they have parted ways with experienced midfielders Kamohelo Mokotjo and Thulani Serero.
Coach Phuti Mohafe’s Polokwane side will also be determined to get a result, as they look to cement a Top 8 finish after picking up two valuable points in their last two matches — a timely recovery following a dip in form.
