Cape Town City in must-win battle as Orbit College eye promotion

Cape Town City’s Betway Premiership status will be on the line when they travel to Rustenburg to face Orbit College in a high-stakes PSL Promotion/Relegation Playoff clash on Wednesday afternoon.

Kick-off is set for 3pm at Olympia Park, and the match could prove decisive in determining both the final promotion spot and the relegated side.

Orbit College currently top the playoff mini-league with five points after three matches, while City are second with two points from two games.

A victory for the Motsepe Foundation Championship side will see them reach eight points — an unassailable lead in the standings — which would confirm their historic promotion to the Betway Premiership and simultaneously relegate Cape Town City to the second tier for the first time in the club’s eight-year existence.

The pressure could not be greater for coach Roger De Sa and his squad. City have drawn both of their matches so far, including a heartbreaking 1-1 result against Casric Stars, where they conceded a late equaliser that now looms large in their playoff campaign.

With two games remaining — Orbit away and Casric at home — the Cityzens have no choice but to collect six points if they are to retain their top-flight status. 

Anything less will leave their fate out of their hands and very likely condemn them to relegation.

Orbit, on the other hand, are brimming with confidence. Their 1-0 win over Casric on Saturday not only pushed them to the top of the standings but also showcased their tactical discipline and ability to manage pressure. 

Another three points on Wednesday would cap off a remarkable rise for the Rustenburg-based side.

City, though, are expected to lean heavily on their experienced campaigners for this do-or-die clash. 

Former Bafana Bafana internationals Thulani Serero, Fortune Makaringe, and Darren Keet will be key figures in guiding the team through what is likely to be a tense, physical encounter. 

Their leadership and composure could prove vital in steering a young and anxious squad through unfamiliar territory.

In the last five seasons, the promotion/relegation playoffs have largely favoured top-flight teams, with only Cape Town Spurs managing to break that pattern last year. 

But Orbit are now on the verge of becoming just the second team from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to earn promotion through the playoff route — unless City can stop them.

The pressure is enormous, the margins fine. For Orbit, it’s the chance to make history. For Cape Town City, it’s about survival.

With the stakes this high, all eyes will be on Olympia Park as the 2024/25 PSL playoff drama reaches a potentially decisive climax.