Apologetic Fadlu Davids rues Maritzburg's relegation: 'We were just not good enough'

With a heavy heart, Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids lamented the bitter blow of their relegation from the prestigious DStv Premiership.

The Team of Choice, fuelled by hope, craved victory in their PSL Promotion/Relegation Playoff against Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday evening.

Yet, their ambitions were thwarted, as they had to settle for a desolate goalless draw in a game they had to win. 

As a result, Maritzburg must brace themselves for a challenging journey in the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season.

Meanwhile, a renewed Spurs squad eagerly anticipates returning to the esteemed top-flight league after a hiatus since 2018, when they were known as Ajax Cape Town.

This relegation starkly contrasts United's previous plunge in 2007, where they swiftly rebounded the following season.

“We tried from the third game of the season. We were rock bottom. We pushed and pushed right up until the last day, but even 30 points were not enough,” Davids told reporters.

“We had a second opportunity again (in the playoffs) and brought it to the last day again, but when it mattered most, we weren't able to score or perform.

“We are really disappointed, and I apologise to the supporters who came out. We really disappointed them, not only tonight but the entire season.

“When it comes to the performance of tonight. You need to be able to match the intensity and the fight, but Cape Town Spurs were resilient.

“The first and second balls were just unable to play our football, and then that's credit to them (Spurs). So, we were just not good enough, not only tonight.”

Throughout the arduous 2022/23 season, Maritzburg found themselves trapped against an unforgiving wall of adversity.

Their struggle climaxed with a harrowing record of seven