Cape Town City complete the trio of PSL hopefuls with Orbit College and Casric Star in the way
Image: Backpagepix
A place in next season's Betway Premiership will be up for grabs when the Premier Soccer League (PSL) promotional play-offs get underway next Wednesday. Orbit College will host Casric Stars in the opening clash at Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg (kick-off 3pm).
The Rustenburg-based side finished second on the NFD Motsepe Foundation Championship table, just five points behind league winners Durban City, who secured automatic promotion after a stellar campaign.
The college side's impressive run earned them a spot in the mini-league playoffs, which will see three teams battle it out for one remaining berth in South Africa's top-flight league.
Completing the trio of hopefuls is Cape Town City, who finished second-last in the Betway Premiership and will now be fighting to retain their elite status.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The format will be straightforward: each team plays the other home and away, and the team that accumulates the most points over the six fixtures will be crowned promotional play-off champions and earn a place in the Premiership for the 2025/26 season.
This marks Orbit College's maiden appearance in the promotion play-offs, a testament to the club's significant progress over the past year. From a ninth-place finish in the previous season, the team climbed into the top three, thanks to consistent performances and key tactical shifts under head coach Pogiso Makhoye.
After weeks of uncertainty caused by an investigation into City's alleged use of an ineligible player, the confirmation of play-off dates has brought relief and focus for Makhoye and his charges.
'We were waiting for the date, and it has been confirmed, so we are ready to go,' Makhoye told Independent Newspapers.
The coach is especially eager to see his side take on Casric Stars, a team that has had the upper hand in their recent matchups, but Makhoye is confident that past results will matter little in a high-pressure playoff scenario.
🚨 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃: 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 🚨 pic.twitter.com/CSKuFIPdtf — Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) June 5, 2025
'In our preparations, we are putting everything into the first game, and we will only start thinking about the second match once we get what we want from the first one,' he said.
'It's a different game now. The playoffs are not the same as the regular league season.
'We've improved our preparations, we've identified our weaknesses, and we are going to take our chances. Maybe it's time to break that hoodoo. It would be great to do that in the playoffs.'
Makhoye also addressed the looming challenge of facing a PSL side in Cape Town City. Although the Citizens come with top-tier experience, the coach believes that his side's presence in the playoffs proves they are no pushovers.
'We're not here by mistake,' he said.
'I think we deserve to be where we are. If we say we're ready for the PSL, we need to test ourselves against teams like Cape Town City.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
28 minutes ago
- IOL News
Norris shines as McLaren tighten grip on both titles ahead of summer break
Lando Norris celebrates McLaren's 200th Grand Prix victory with a composed drive in Budapest, edging team-mate Oscar Piastri to tighten an all-orange title race ahead of the summer break. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Lando Norris danced his way to a fifth win of the season in Budapest — a victory born not of dominance from the start, but of grit and quiet persistence. From a slow launch off the line to a forceful final flourish, the Briton pieced together another masterpiece under the Hungarian grey clouds, taming the twists of the Hungaroring when it mattered most to hand his team their 200th Grand Prix victory. With 14 races done and dusted and the paddock slipping into its summer pause, McLaren stand tall at the top — not just chasing, but commanding both championships. Their run through the first half of 2025 has been a blend of precision, patience and pure performance. The Surrey-based outfit has held control since the opening round, delivering more podium finishes than any other team and stretching out a remarkable 299-point lead in the Constructors' Championship. The fat lady isn't just warming up — she's already singing. For McLaren, the only real battle from here may be the one happening internally. Just nine points separate Norris and Oscar Piastri heading into the break. With the title fight shaping up as a two-horse race in papaya orange, here are some key talking points from the weekend: McLaren's careful management amid a brewing driver duel Since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 triumph, McLaren have longed for another drivers' title. This season, they've done little wrong. Team orders have been minimal and the atmosphere largely positive — for now. Given how close the title fight is, it would be natural to expect tensions to flare between the two young stars with everything on the line. Yet, despite being given the freedom to race, both Norris and Piastri have kept things respectful. But as the pressure ramps up later in the season, the cracks may begin to show. The one with cooler nerves will likely prevail. Piastri has looked the steadier of the two at times, but it's been just as impressive how Norris, even when things haven't gone his way, has kept himself just nine points adrift — further testament to how well the team has managed a potentially volatile situation. Verstappen's tough outing continues Max Verstappen, meanwhile, finds himself in the midst of one of the most difficult stretches of his career. A ninth-place finish in Hungary marked his fourth consecutive race without a podium — an unthinkable statistic for a driver who has defined F1's recent era. The biggest talking point surrounding the Dutchman wasn't his lacklustre result, but rather a near-miss with long-time rival Hamilton as he attempted to claw back positions. In a daring move while overtaking a Ferrari struggling on worn tyres, Verstappen forced Hamilton wide — a moment that sparked post-race debate over potential penalties. However, the stewards deemed no further action necessary. Red Bull's struggles have been glaring. With Yuki Tsunoda often absent from the points, they've effectively operated with one car — and even that hasn't been enough. The break offers a crucial window to regroup, but there's no mistaking the task at hand: closing the gap between their two drivers and salvaging some pride. Hamilton's dream move off to a slow start For Hamilton, Hungary brought an unwanted milestone: his worst finish at the venue in 15 years. A frustrating weekend, which saw him finish 12th, capped what has been a disappointing first half of the season with Ferrari — a move once billed as a fairytale now increasingly looks like a misstep. Adding to the pain, team-mate Charles Leclerc continues to pull clear. The Monegasque has steadily delivered solid results, opening up a 42-point gap over the seven-time world champion. With one eye already on 2026's regulation changes, Hamilton would have hoped for far more from his debut campaign in red. The upcoming break may be short, but it offers a moment for reflection — and renewed hope for a stronger finish to a fading season.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Nabi's new-look Kaizer Chiefs face stern Stellenbosch test in season opener
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi faces a tough start to life in the Betway Premiership as his side travel to face a confident Stellenbosch FC. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Kaizer Chiefs embark on a challenging new season in the Betway Premiership this Sunday when they travel to Cape Town to face a determined Stellenbosch FC under the guidance of coach Steve Barker. The match marks not only the beginning of the league campaign for Chiefs but also a significant test for head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has pledged that his team will compete fiercely in all competitions this year. Chiefs enjoyed a break last weekend while the MTN8 quarter-finals were in progress. This hiatus has given them time to prepare, but it could also mean they lack match sharpness as they head into the opener against Stellenbosch, who come into the clash fresh off a 3-2 extra-time victory over AmaZulu in Cape Town. In a bid to remedy last season's disappointing performance, Chiefs have made several signings during the off-season and underwent a rigorous pre-season camp in the Netherlands. However, the results of their preparations have been underwhelming, with the team losing six of their pre-season matches, culminating in a narrow penalty defeat to Ghana's Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup in Durban. Nabi, reflecting on his strategy for the season, told reporters: 'How we're approaching the season with the league, the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup is to take it game by game and do everything we can in every game to win.' His determination to compete in every match is clear, though he acknowledges the uncertainty that comes with football: 'Maybe it's not gonna be possible to win all the games, maybe it's gonna be possible, but we are going to challenge for every game in whatever capabilities we will be in,' he added. Despite their struggles in pre-season, Nabi remains optimistic. Chiefs have secured the talents of six new players, but integrating these signings into a cohesive starting eleven remains a work in progress. With broader ambitions across the CAF Confederation Cup, the Carling Knockout, and the Nedbank Cup, pressure is mounting on Nabi to deliver early results and avoid repeating the missteps of last season. A continued lack of progress could prompt the club's management to reconsider their commitment to his tenure.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Richards Bay's Gabriel laments ‘cheap' MTN8 exit against Mamelodi Sundowns
Simphiwe Mcineka of Richards Bay reacts after missing a scoring opportunity against Mamelodi Sundowns during their MTN8 quarter-final encounter at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel admitted disappointment after his side's MTN8 campaign ended with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, describing the goals conceded as 'cheap' and preventable. The Natal Rich Boyz were outclassed at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday, where a dominant Sundowns side booked their place in the semi-finals. Coach of Richards Bay Ronnie Gabriel. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Iqraam Rayners netted twice, while Siyabonga Mabena scored a deflected strike and Simphiwe Mcineka turned the ball into his own net to cap off a difficult afternoon for the KZN side. While Gabriel acknowledged the gulf in class, he was frustrated with the manner in which his team conceded. 'All credit should go to Sundowns, but I felt we also gave away cheap goals — I mean, you look at the set-piece goal, an own goal and a deflection as well,' said Gabriel after the game. 'We played a tough Sundowns team and there'll be a lot we've learnt from this game. I'm sure we'll become a better team after this as we get ready to start the league next Saturday.' Mabena goes on his own to make it four ⚽✨ 📺 Stream #MTN8 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 3, 2025 Despite the disappointment of exiting the competition at the quarter-final stage, the fixture served as an important benchmark for Richards Bay as they prepare for their Betway Premiership opener. Sundowns, with their pace, structure and individual brilliance, offered a reality check that Gabriel says came at the right time. 'Playing Sundowns does give us an indication of where we are right now,' he added. '(Sunday) it was all about sharpness from the players and seeing our additions to the squad as well.' Gabriel and fellow co-coach Papi Zothwane have brought in several new faces during the off-season, and the MTN8 showdown was their first real opportunity to see how the revamped squad fares against elite opposition.
