Jaedin Rhodes of Cape Town City is expected to play an important role in the club's PSL promotion/relegation play-offs, starting on Tuesday against Milford. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Cape Town City FC and Milford FC will begin their promotion/relegation play-off campaign on Tuesday afternoon knowing a strong start could shape the direction of their entire season.
The two Motsepe Foundation Championship sides meet at Athlone Stadium in the opening round-robin fixture, as they battle alongside Magesi FC for a place in next season’s Betway Premiership. City enter the play-offs carrying momentum after a strong finish to the campaign.
The Mother City outfit ended the season in second place following an impressive late surge that included victories against Gomora United, Baroka and Leicesterford City in their final three matches. Much of their consistency arrived through a lengthy unbeaten run earlier in the season which briefly pushed them into automatic promotion contention.
Although they ultimately fell short of top spot, City remain one of the favourites to emerge successfully from the play-offs. Coach Jan Vreman believes his side possesses enough quality and belief to secure an immediate return to the Premiership.
“What I saw this season is that we can beat every team, so I am positive that we can do it,” said Vreman. “We know that it will be very difficult.”
Unlike last season’s relegation pressure, Vreman insists the atmosphere around the squad now feels calmer and more stable heading into the play- offs. One player expected to carry major responsibility for City is forward Jaedin Rhodes after his recent strong performances helped drive the club’s late-season push.
Milford, meanwhile, arrive with ambitions of their own after fighting back strongly during the closing stretch of the campaign.
The KwaZulu-Natal side spent parts of the season leading the division before inconsistency temporarily damaged their promotion hopes. However, three wins from their final five matches ensured they secured a playoff place.
Experienced midfielder Menzi Chili is expected to become central to Milford’s hopes of controlling the tempo against City’s organised midfield structure.
With Magesi still waiting to enter the play-offs, Tuesday’s encounter immediately becomes an opportunity for either City or Milford to place early pressure on the Premiership side before the mini-league intensifies over the coming weeks.
All matches kick offs at 3pm