Latest news with #DiogoPeral
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
PSL promotion/relegation play-off drama set to begin with Citizens still favourites
Interim Cape Town Ciy coach Diogo Peral has a handful of upcoming matches to save the club's elite status during the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Motsepe Foundation Championship encountered an unexpected hurdle when newly crowned champions Durban City were momentarily denied their spot at the summit, due to an ongoing case involving the alleged improper registration of a player earlier in the season. This matter forced the PSL to delay City's title celebrations, as a guilty verdict would have carried major consequences that could have reshaped the league's final standings. However, the club was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing and the player in question, Saziso Magawana was confirmed to have been transferred and registered properly. With that chapter now closed, all attention now turns to the highly anticipated PSL promotional/relegation play-offs, set to start next Wednesday between Casric Stars and Orbit College in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga. Here, Obakeng Meletse takes a look at the three clubs involved, which also includes Cape Town City, and assesses their chances heading into the mini-tournament. 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 ✕ Ad loading Cape Town City The Cape outfit narrowly missed out on guaranteeing their place in the Betway Premiership on goal difference. Reflecting on their inconsistent run in the 2024/25 campaign, they'll be left ruing the many missed chances, especially after losing more than half of their matches this past season. The appointment of Diogo Peral, supported by assistants Roger de Sa and Lebogang Manyama, has not delivered the intended turnaround. A side that ended the 2023/24 season in a respectable fifth place, has now found themselves in a desperate battle to avoid losing their top-flight status. Still, there is reason for optimism. City picked up a valuable four points from their final two matches, which gave them hope all the way to the closing moments of the season. Peral and his team will aim to build on that late surge and carry some momentum into the play-offs. Their opening match of the mini-tournament is next week Saturday in Cape Town against Stars. Orbit College The Rustenburg-based club were massively improved this season. From a ninth-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign, to ending just five points behind eventual champions Durban City, their rise has been impressive. The College side will be eager to maintain the form that has turned them from mid-table competitors into serious contenders for the title and a place in the top flight. They'll face a tough test from City and a Stars sides they failed to beat in both encounters this season. There is very little margin for error, and they'll know that these chances don't come around often and this could be their best opportunity in years to secure a place in the Betway Premiership. Casric Stars
The Star
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
It's a bit of a joke actually, says Cape Town City coach Diogo Peral about PSL relegation saga
Cape Town City's interim coach Diogo Peral has ridiculed the situation where his team will need to wait until the conclusion of the Golden Arrows and SuperSport United fixture after the conclusion of the regular season to have their Betway Premiership fate decided. City finished on 27 points after a goalless draw against Western Cape neighbours Stellenbosch FC on Saturday at the DHL Stadium. But despite being a point above the relegation zone, they will only know whether they will contest the playoffs after Arrows and SuperSport, who trail City by a point, play 45 minutes of a fixture that was stopped due to loadshedding back in February already. 'The reason these games are all played at the same time is so that teams don't get to choose the result they want,' Peral said. 'The very reason those games are to avoid this and then on top of it it's the two teams that are fighting relegation that get to play against each other. 'So, it's a bit of a joke actually, but it is what it is and if we start with all the theories and all the negatives, it's not going to help us in the next game.' Peral has adopted a pragmatic approach to the unique scenario facing his team and has already instructed his support staff to prepare his team to contest the playoffs. 'The only thing we can do is what's in our hands and what's in our hands is to forget about all that and to go and prepare as well as we can, like we've been preparing for the last few games we've played,' he said. 'We're planning for the play-offs, watching the opposition we'll be coming up against, and we've already travelled to watch some of their games, so the planning is well on the way already. 'If something else happens, then so be it – great, but we'll be at training... One day off and then the boys will be back at training [on Monday],'
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
It's a bit of a joke actually, says Cape Town City coach Diogo Peral about PSL relegation saga
Interim head coach of Cape Town City Diogo Peral. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Cape Town City's interim coach Diogo Peral has ridiculed the situation where his team will need to wait until the conclusion of the Golden Arrows and SuperSport United fixture after the conclusion of the regular season to have their Betway Premiership fate decided. City finished on 27 points after a goalless draw against Western Cape neighbours Stellenbosch FC on Saturday at the DHL Stadium. But despite being a point above the relegation zone, they will only know whether they will contest the playoffs after Arrows and SuperSport, who trail City by a point, play 45 minutes of a fixture that was stopped due to loadshedding back in February already. 'The reason these games are all played at the same time is so that teams don't get to choose the result they want,' Peral said. 'The very reason those games are to avoid this and then on top of it it's the two teams that are fighting relegation that get to play against each other. 'So, it's a bit of a joke actually, but it is what it is and if we start with all the theories and all the negatives, it's not going to help us in the next game.' Peral has adopted a pragmatic approach to the unique scenario facing his team and has already instructed his support staff to prepare his team to contest the playoffs. 'The only thing we can do is what's in our hands and what's in our hands is to forget about all that and to go and prepare as well as we can, like we've been preparing for the last few games we've played,' he said. 'We're planning for the play-offs, watching the opposition we'll be coming up against, and we've already travelled to watch some of their games, so the planning is well on the way already. 'If something else happens, then so be it – great, but we'll be at training... One day off and then the boys will be back at training [on Monday],'
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Cape Town City boost survival hopes, but derby 'war' against Stellenbosch waiting in the wings
Interim head coach of Cape Town City Diogo Peral hopes their recent win over Polokwane City will be enough to save them from the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. Photo Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Cape Town City's caretaker coach Diogo Peral expressed a mixture of relief and determination following his team's commendable 2-0 Betway Premiership victory over Polokwane City, on a challenging day for the players. Describing Saturday's encounter as 'a difficult game' at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium – known for its tough atmosphere – Peral acknowledged the significance of the win in the context of the club's relegation battle. City had not tasted victory since 17 January, when they defeated Richards Bay FC at Cape Town Stadium. Since then, they had suffered nine league defeats and drawn four times in 13 matches. 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 ✕ 'These are the kind of hard-fought battles we need to face,' said Peral, who recorded his first win since taking over from Muhsin Ertugral in March. 'If it's the play-offs and this is the kind of performance away from home, then this will get us through.' His comments highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by City in the second half of the Premiership campaign. He suggested that, had this level of commitment been shown earlier in the season, the club might not be in this precarious position. He praised his players for adapting their style of play, saying: 'They know that this is what they must do now, especially in the battles we are going into. They played a game they don't really like to play, but they know this is what's required now.' This emphasis on adaptation and resilience may prove to be a crucial catalyst in their bid to remain in South Africa's top flight. 'Whether this is enough to save us from the play-offs or not, who knows?' he added. Three points on the road, and focus shifts to next Saturday ✅ A 𝒃𝒊𝒈 week lies ahead #iamCityFC — Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) May 18, 2025 City will be holding their breath in the battle for Premiership survival as they prepare for next week's final match of the season. The team cannot rely solely on their own performance; in addition to securing a possible win, they need favourable results in other matches involving relegation-threatened sides to go their way before their fate is sealed. The bad news for City is that they face in-form Western Cape neighbours Stellenbosch FC at Cape Town Stadium. Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has already fired the opening salvo ahead of the derby, following his side's 2-1 win over SuperSport United at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday. Looking ahead to the Mother City derby, Barker said: 'It's going to be war out there.' Stellenbosch warmed up for the showdown by reclaiming third place on the Betway Premiership table with their weekend victory. Will City rise to the occasion, or will they hear the telltale sound of the play-offs' trapdoor opening beneath them?
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Cape Town City cling to faint survival hopes ahead of trip to Polokwane as relegation threat intensifies
Interim coach of Cape Town City, Diogo Peral, has been unable to change the fortunes of the Citizens in the Betway Premiership since taking over earlier this year. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Cape Town City are holding onto the faintest of hopes to avoid the promotion/relegation playoffs as their Premiership campaign nears its conclusion. With the clock ticking and the odds growing longer, the Cape side faces a high-stakes final stretch that could define the club's immediate future. City are currently 14th on the table with 23 points from 26 matches. They sit three points behind both Golden Arrows and SuperSport United. Crucially, Arrows have a game in hand, while SuperSport, who have struggled for form throughout the season, have played two matches fewer than City. The mathematical reality leaves City with little room for error and increasingly dependent on other teams dropping points. Their next fixture – away to Polokwane City on Saturday at 3pm – is effectively a must-win. Anything less than three points in Limpopo will all but confirm their participation in the end-of-season playoffs, where their top-flight status would be on the line. 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 ✕ Travelling north for our final away game this season ⤵️👊#iamCityFC — Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) May 15, 2025 Head coach Diogo Peral has acknowledged the precarious situation. He said the team are determined to fight until the end, but admitted that their destiny is no longer solely in their own hands. The coaching staff have continued to emphasise focus and commitment, while also recognising that the psychological pressure has affected performance levels in recent weeks. City are enduring a 14-match winless streak across all competitions – the longest such run in the club's history. With just five wins and 18 goals in 26 league games, the team's lack of attacking efficiency and defensive resilience has left them vulnerable at a critical stage of the campaign. Polokwane City, who will host the match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, present a formidable challenge. The Limpopo side have occupied a position in the top eight for the majority of the season, and have consistently demonstrated tactical discipline and competitiveness. They are likely to approach this fixture with the same ambition, aiming to solidify their strong finish in front of their home support. Nah Cape Town City is not getting relegated 🤔💭 — Pretoria Citizen 💙💛 (@Schnapps_sa) May 13, 2025 Peral has praised his players' commitment during training sessions, but acknowledged that the pressure of the relegation battle has led to lapses in concentration and confidence on the field. SuperSport United, despite a season well below their usual standards, remain three points ahead of City with two games in hand. Their current position puts additional pressure on City, who cannot afford any further setbacks. With only two fixtures remaining, Cape Town City's path to survival is narrow and uncertain. Even if they secure maximum points this weekend, their Premiership status could still hinge on goal difference or results elsewhere. What began as a season of ambition has descended into a battle for survival. Unless circumstances shift dramatically, City will find themselves facing the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of the relegation playoffs – a scenario they had hoped to avoid entirely.
