Struggling former champions SuperSport held at home

Struggling former champions SuperSport held at home

Triple former champions SuperSport United remained second last in the South African Premiership on Sunday after a 0-0 home draw against fellow strugglers Cape Town City.

Supersport United FC
SuperSport United FC

SuperSport had more scoring chances, but a team that has found the net only 12 times in 22 league matches once again failed to convert any.


They have 22 points with eight matches to play, and lying 15th means they occupy the position that takes the incumbents into play-offs with two second division sides for one Premiership spot.


Bottom club Royal AM have not played since December due to financial problems and are facing automatic relegation having won just once this season.


A bid to sell the club based in eastern city Pietermaritzburg to new owners this week reportedly flopped.


Cape Town slipped one place to 14th, with local Diogo Peral their third coach this season after former South Africa international Eric Tinkler and Turk Muhsin Ertugral were sacked.


Caretaker SuperSport coach Andre Arendse, the goalkeeper when South Africa hosted and won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, was upbeat despite the precarious position of the Pretoria club.


"We were comfortable in possession and passed well, but the season-long problem of not taking our scoring opportunities remains," he said.


"I do not believe there is too much to fix. This is a talented squad and we will get out of the relegation zone."


Peral said he was satisfied with an away point that kept Cape Town two points above SuperSport, although the draw stretched a winless run to 11 matches in all competitions.


"We will take the point, but things have to change. We have got to start winning matches, otherwise the threat of relegation looms."


Relegation carries heavy financial penalties. Premiership clubs receive a 2.5 million rand ($135,000/€125,000) monthly grant while second division clubs get 750,000 rand.


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