Win or bust for strife-torn Spurs against fellow strugglers Richards Bay

• Published date: 26 April 2024
• Author: Herman Gibbs
• Publication title: Daily News

This strife will come to a head in tonight’s blockbuster relegation clash at Athlone Stadium, where Spurs will host fellow strugglers Richards Bay (7.30pm kick-off)

The outcome of the match could define the seasons of the two teams, who have been hogging the bottom rungs of the 16-team Premiership log for several weeks now.

Spurs are in 16th place with 12 points, and Richards Bay are 15th, with 20.

Defeat for Spurs will mean that Richards Bay’s lead will grow from eight points to 11, and that will be the end of the Urban Warriors.

Or at least that’s how their coach Ernst Middendorp sees it, while hoping against hope for the win.

“If we don’t win on Friday evening, then you can close the book,” said the German-born Middendorp.

“That is the reality. We must win this game. It is as simple as that. How you do it (win) doesn’t matter, be it 1-0 or whatever, it doesn’t matter.

“The most important thing is not to switch off to make it happen.

“We need high focus and high commitment in each and every second of that game.

“At the professional level you can’t switch off, as we’ve seen it again and again in our games.”

After Spurs’ cataclysmic start to the season, Middendorp has had to deal with trouble and strife increasing every week on several fronts.

Players have not been pulling their weight, while match officials have been poor and made massive calls to the detriment of the Cape outfit.

A few days ago, winger Surprise Ralani stopped training after he played against Sekhukhune United in Polokwane last week. The seasoned player was on for an hour before he was substituted.

Middendorp will now have to rely on Boitumelo Radiopane to lead the side’s attack in his chosen 4-2-3-1 playing pattern.

Yesterday, Middendorp was reluctant to comment on his team’s travails, but told Independent Newspapers: “We are working on the collective ambitions of the team.”

Spurs and Kaizer Chiefs are the only sides who failed to win a match in the last five league rounds.

Richards Bay arrive in the Mother City...