A fight to the end: Stars aligning for CT Spurs' PSL return, but Maritzburg won't go quietly

The tears glistening down the cheeks of Cape Town Spurs head coach Shaun Bartlett showed just how much a slender 1-0 win meant against Casric Stars in their penultimate PSL promotion/relegation playoffs encounter on Wednesday.

READ | CT Spurs have one foot in PSL door after third straight playoff victory

They’ve won three on the trot by the same scoreline, propelling the Cape side to the summit of the mini-league with 9 precious points. They are now one point away from securing their return to South Africa’s top flight after a five-year absence.

Spurs will require a point from their final fixture next Wednesday (14 June) away to Maritzburg United (3 points) only if Fadlu Davids’ team beats Casric Stars (0 points) on Saturday.

A defeat or a draw for the Team of Choice will mean the end of United’s longstanding battle to remain in the DStv Premiership and they will fall into the Motsepe Foundation Championship (National First Division, NFD).

It has been an emotional rollercoaster of a 2022/23 season for Spurs. They lost out on direct promotion to the PSL on goal difference to Polokwane City on the final day of the regular campaign with Bartlett and the club’s owners highlighting the dubious officiating in South Africa.

The man with the whistle was again stealing the headlines on Wednesday. Michael Mosemeng issued Spurs’ top goal scorer, Ashley Cupido, a controversial red card midway through the second half as the scores were still deadlocked.

SEE | PSL Playoffs: Log standings, results and fixtures

However, Spurs midfielder Morne Nel coolly slotted a goal from outside the box, which skidded off the wet Athlone Stadium surface into the bottom left corner.

The home side held as Casric pressed for an equaliser and, with the final