Latest news with #ChristianSaile
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
SuperSport survive dreaded playoffs in game of two halves, and three months
The Betway Premiership season has officially, finally, come to an end with SuperSport United surviving the dreaded promotion play-offs with a 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday. This second half, which ended without goals, was a continuation of the match that was abandoned at half time on February 23, three months ago, due to Lucas Moripe's lights going out amid a power failure with the score level at 1-1 at half time. At that time, SuperSport opened the scoring after four minutes through the effort of Christian Saile and that goal was cancelled out in the 24th minute by Velemseni Ndwandwe for Arrows. SuperSport, whose future remains in doubt with rumours the club is on sale, are equal on 27 points with Cape Town City but they have a better goal-difference and they have saved their status in the PSL. Emotional scenes as SuperSport Utd breathe a sigh of relief 🥹 #BetwayPrem | #SSDiski — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 29, 2025 This means City, who finished 15th, go to the play-offs where they will play against Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) sides Orbit College and Casric Stars — pending an arbitration involving MFC champions Durban City — to save their PSL status. It is not known whether this is the end of this matter because City's boss John Comitis is believed to be seeking legal advice to challenge the validity of this match, where two halves were played three months apart. According to the rules, the game should resume with all personnel who were involved that day and yellow cards in place but both scorers Saile and Ndwandwe were not in the match-day squads, presumably due to injury. Both sides' coaches had also changed, Andre Arendse replacing Gavin Hunt at Matsatsantsa and Manqoba Mngithi coming in for Kagisho Dikgacoi and Musa Bilankulu, who became his assistants, at Arrows. Ordinarily the 16th-placed Premiership side is automatically relegated and 15th team goes to the promotion-relegation playoffs. This season, due to Royal AM's expulsion, only the 15-positioned side goes to the playoffs, with no side dropping automatically. Faced with a situation where a defeat could have resulted in devastating consequences, Arendse went with a strong line-up of players like the Bafana Bafana duo of Ricardo Goss and Nyiko Mobbie, former national captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Ime Okon, Lebohang Maboe, Sipheshihle Ndlovu, Samir Nurković and Lyle Lakay. Mngqithi picked a strong combination too, which included key players like Isimail Watenga, Gladwin Shitolo, Brandon Theron, Nduduzo Sibiya, Nhlanhla Zwane and Lungelo Dube. Arrows ended the season in 12th place and Mngqithi has a lot of work to do during the off-season to recruit players who will help the team be consistent next campaign. There was relief at the final whistle with SuperSport players and members of staff in wild celebrations but the issue remains about the continued status of the club that has three league titles.
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
SuperSport retain their Betway Premiership status
On that occasion, Christian Saile had handed United an early lead in the fourth minute, before Velemseni Ndwandwe drew Arrows level. Keenan Phillips of Golden Arrows challenged by Samir Nurkovic of Supersport United during the Betway Premiership 2024/25 match at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on the 29 May 2025 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix SuperSport United have retained their Betway Premiership status following a 1–1 draw against Golden Arrows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday. The fixture resumed with just 45 minutes of the second half to be played, after the original match was abandoned three months ago due to a power failure. ALSO READ: Could the Premiership relegation battle be decided in court? On that occasion, Christian Saile had handed United an early lead in the fourth minute, before Velemseni Ndwandwe drew Arrows level. The match was initially set to mark Gavin Hunt's milestone of 1,000 games in charge in South Africa's top-flight football. However, the veteran coach was dismissed in March after a string of disappointing results, with Andre Arendse taking over the reins on an interim basis. Needing only a point to steer clear of the relegation play-offs, SuperSport approached the rescheduled encounter with caution. The Tshwane-based outfit were content to concede possession, defending deep in their own half for much of the match. Arrows struggled to break down a well-organised United side that was clearly playing for a draw. Aside from half-chances for Samir Nurković and substitute Bradley Grobler, SuperSport offered little going forward in a largely uneventful second half. The result sees SuperSport finish 14th on the log with 27 points from the revised 28-game season. ALSO READ: Tovey blasts Chiefs' 'not good at all' season Cape Town City also conclude their campaign on 27 points, but Arendse's charges edge them due to a superior goal difference. On the other hand, Arrows end their campaign in 12th position on the log standings, and two points outside the top eight. Manqoba Mngqithi's team needed to win by an avalanche of goals to boost their chances of sneaking into the top half of the log. Royal AM expulsion from the premiership means that they are essentially relegated as the league finishes with 15 teams. Barring any legal disputes, The Citizens will now contest the relegation play-off mini-league against ORBIT College and Casric Stars who finished second and third respectively in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Durban City, have secured automatic promotion to the elite tier of South African football.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Can SuperSport United make it count against Golden Arrows to avoid PSL playoffs?
Christian Saile Christian Saile (centre) scored for SuperSport United against Golden Arrows a few months ago. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix A MATCH that was supposed to have been a celebratory event for a seasoned coach will now be played with much greater significance. Back in February when SuperSport United hosted Golden Arrows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, the game was all about Gavin Hunt being in charge of his 1,000th professional match. The multiple championship-winning coach was given a guard of honour by both clubs as he walked onto the pitch, and the small crowd were on their feet applauding. But load-shedding spoiled it all, the match being stalled midway through the first half as the lights went off. Then that stanza was completed with the score at 1-1, following goals by Christian Saile and Willemson Ndwandwe, before the darkness and lack of a generator led to its abandonment. Three months later, the two teams will complete the match, with just the second half to be played at noon today at the same venue. It could well be different clubs playing this match – Hunt having long been fired from SuperSport, and his then-counterpart Musa Bilankulu demoted to the assistant role at an Arrows outfit now coached by Manqoba Mngqithi. Back then, both sides were mid-table outfits nursing hopes of a top-eight finish. But now they are bottom dwellers, with the KwaZulu-Natal side having a very slim chance of usurping Richards Bay in eighth place. SuperSport, on the other hand, need to get something out of this match like the desert needs the rain, desperately. Matsatsantsa a Pitori are in 15th place, and will go into the promotion-relegation playoffs with the two sides from the Motsepe Foundation Championship if they do not get at least a point. On the face of it, all they need do is keep Arrows from finding their net, and the former three-time league champions would have their status secured. But it will not be that easy, not with their recent wretched form that has seen them and victories resembling the parallel lines of the railway – destined never to meet. After every match they've played and lost, interim SuperSport coach Andre Arendse spoke confidently that they would do better in the next one. That has not happened, hence the situation they find themselves in. Last weekend, after they lost 2-0 to Richards Bay, the previously confident former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper cut a sorry and dejected figure as he tried to remain hopeful.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
PSL set to order Golden Arrows, SuperSport United to replay second half
Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has one more match in the Betway Premiership to prepare the club for – Sekhukhune United – next weekend. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Premier Soccer League have reportedly ruled that only the second half of the abandoned February clash between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows will be replayed – a critical 45 minutes that could decide who survives the drop. With the score locked at 1-1 before load-shedding plunged the venue into darkness, and no back-up power available, the match was called off at halftime. According to SABC Sport, that one-half reprieve is now set to be completed at a yet-to-be-confirmed date – and both clubs have everything to play for. When contacted by Independent Media for a comment on the matter, Arrows said that they were yet to be informed of such a decision, and the only information they have has come through the media. Meanwhile, the PSL and SuperSport could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing. Christian Saile opened the scoring for SuperSport in the original fixture, before Velemseni Ndwandwe restored parity for Arrows. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ What followed was chaos off the pitch, and now both sides will have to pick up where they left off – with new faces on the touchline. Gavin Hunt was still in charge of Matsatsantsa at the time, but he's since been dismissed, with Andre Arendse taking over in an interim role. Similarly, Mabhuti Khenyeza, who led Arrows on the day, has moved to Chippa United, and was replaced by former Sundowns mentor Manqoba Mngqithi. And the stakes have never been higher. Arrows currently sit in 13th place on the Premiership table with 27 points – just one ahead of Cape Town City, who occupy the relegation playoff spot. With the league's tightest relegation scrap in years, even the smallest error could cost dearly. Arrows still have a match against Sekhukhune United to come this Saturday (3pm start). A win might be enough to guarantee safety, unless City, who face Stellenbosch FC in the Cape derby, manage to pull off a victory of their own. SuperSport are in equally hot water. A loss to Orlando Pirates midweek has left them desperate for points. They must now secure at least four from their remaining two fixtures – against Richards Bay and the 45-minute replay against Arrows – to stay afloat. The league has yet to confirm when and where the second half will be played, but one thing is certain, it will be no ordinary half of football. It's a survival decider, and a scrap for top-flight lives. In a relegation battle where margins are as thin as a single goal, 45 minutes could be the difference between relief and ruin.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
SuperSport United banking on Bradley Grobler, Christian Saile to cause Stellenbosch FC upset
Christian Saile Christian Saile (centre) will hope to score again for SuperSport United against Stellenbosch FC. Photo: BackpagePix SuperSport United interim coach Andre Arendse could lead his team closer to safety if they beat Stellenbosch FC in the Premiership on Saturday. SuperSport are languishing in the bottom half of the standings with 26 points, three ahead of Cape Town City, who hold the playoffs spot. Matsantsantsa a Pitori have four games to play before the end of the season, something that could yield 12 points and safety if everything goes their way. They have to put their money where their mouth is, though, by ensuring that they grind results in their next games, building on their recent 2-0 win over Chippa United. Arendse, after being put in charge of the team following the sacking of Gavin Hunt in March due to a string of poor results, expressed his ample belief in his team. He said the depth is there, so the only thing they need to do is to rediscover their confidence and get back to winning ways in the league. So, having his team gone on a four-game unbeaten run since he took over after drawing the first three games before beating Chippa, it seems the players are heeding his call. Strikers Bradley Grobler and Christian Saile both scored against the Chilli Boys, ensuring that they hit the right notes when the team needed them the most. Arendse will bank on the due to keep on firing until the last game of the season against Richards Bay at home on May 24. After all, they need to do it for the club and themselves. Grobler has struggled with injuries this season, limiting his goal contribution for the team. His injury issues have resulted in many pundits advising him to hang up his boots while he's back on the pitch, instead of being forced to retire by an injury. Saile, meanwhile, needs to continue being at his best with every passing game if he's to return to his parent club, Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, at the end of the season. However, the onus to steer SuperSport to safety doesn't only rest with the coach and the two strikers, but everyone that's part and parcel of the team as well. A team like Stellies, for instance, won't be easy customers as they'll be at home, the Danie Craven Stadium, and are eyeing a third-place finish on the standings as well. Stellies are just two points behind Sekhukhune United, who hold the coveted third-place spot which guarantees CAF Confederation Cup football next season, on the log. Coach Steve Barker's men were part of that continental showpiece last season after finishing third, and that's why they'll want to qualify for the same event next season as well.
