Cape Town City complete the trio of PSL hopefuls with Orbit College and Casric Star in the way
BATTLE: Fortune Makaringe and Jaedin Rhodes may be down, but are far from out BATTLE: Fortune Makaringe and Jaedin Rhodes may be down, but are far from out as Cape Town City look ahead to the play-offs. BackpagePix
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
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs target prolific lower league striker amid transfer race
Kaizer Chiefs have stepped up their pursuit of one of the lower divisions' most exciting forwards, as they look to sharpen their attacking arsenal ahead of the new Betway Premiership season. A source has confirmed that Amakhosi are closely monitoring Thapelo Matlhoko, the prolific striker from Kruger United. Who has become a hot property following a string of standout performances, as per Soccer Laduma . Chiefs aren't alone in the chase, but they appear to be in the driving seat. 'Now Kaizer Chiefs are also interested in him. But let's see where he will go,' a source close to the situation said. Matlhoko first caught the eye of scouts during the ABC Motsepe League playoffs, where his finishing instincts and physical presence turned heads. Kaizer Chiefs have reportedly kept tabs on him ever since. According to the source, Marumo Gallants, Golden Arrows, and two other unnamed Betway Premiership teams have also shown interest. However, it's Chiefs who seem most determined to secure his signature. 'As much as Chiefs have enquired about him, so has Golden Arrows and two other Betway Premiership sides. But the scouts at Marumo Gallants know him better and that gives them a better chance of signing him,' the source revealed. Matlhoko's current club, Kruger United, managed to retain him last season despite previous attempts from clubs like Gallants to lure him away. This time, though, the level of interest has escalated, and Kaizer Chiefs are well-positioned to convince the player to take the next step in his career. 'It's not the first time they have shown interest in him. During the ABC Motsepe playoffs last season they wanted him but Kruger United kept him at least for another season,' said a source. With Chiefs rebuilding under pressure and seeking fresh attacking options, Matlhoko could emerge as a low-risk, high-reward addition. Will Matlhoko be able to handle the pressure at Kaizer Chiefs? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Kobamelo Kodisang reconsiders Sundowns future
Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Kobamelo Kodisang is reportedly reconsidering his future at the Tshwane-based club. Kodisang arrived as one of the high-profile signings following his decision to return home from Europe. However, the 25-year-old has not really lived up to the expectations as he often finds himself out in the stands. Competition for a place in the Sundowns starting line-up has been very stiff for him despite being highly rated. He was only limited to just 13 appearances across all competitions this past season, scoring twice and assists in a further two. According to UnplayableZA , Kodisang is seriously pondering his future with a possible exit not entirely ruled out. Kabomelo Kodisang signs for Mamelodi Sundowns. Image: @masandawana/X Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs close to snapping up SuperSport United star
Kaizer Chiefs are on the brink of securing the signature of exciting SuperSport United left-back Aphiwe Baliti, as they begin a full-scale squad rebuild ahead of the 2025/2026 season. After another underwhelming league campaign, despite lifting the Nedbank Cup, the Soweto giants are wasting no time reshaping their team for a stronger push next term. Amakhosi's failure to clinch a top eight finish in the Betway Premiership for a second consecutive year, and with it, another absence from the MTN8, has triggered urgent calls for sweeping changes. New head coach Nasreddine Nabi, brought in to steer the club in a new direction, appears ready to revamp key areas of the squad. While attacking reinforcements remain a priority. The club is equally focused on tightening up its defence, particularly at left-back, where options are dwindling. Kaizer Chiefs currently have several left-sided defensive options, including Bradley Cross, Edmilson Dove, Happy Mashiane, and Bongani Sam. However, most of these names could be on their way out. That potential triple departure has placed left-back high on Chiefs' transfer wishlist. With 23-year-old Aphiwe Baliti emerging as a top target. Baliti enjoyed a breakout campaign with SuperSport United, featuring 18 times across all competitions in 2024/2025. His performances, marked by blistering pace, high work rate, and calmness on the ball, have caught the eye of Chiefs' scouts. Sources close to the player's camp have revealed that 'a deal is almost done'. Suggesting that the youngster is on the verge of completing a switch to Naturena. Will Aphiwe Baliti be a good addition to Kaizer Chiefs? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
