Maritzburg United face a pivotal test to save their DStv Premiership as they seek to negotiate their way past the Promotion/Relegation playoffs again having pulled off the same feat four years ago.
The Team of Choice is now facing the biggest threat to their stay in the DStv Premiership after managing to stay afloat for 15 years in a row.
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It was at the end of the 2006/07 season that Maritzburg were relegated through a campaign in which their regulars were Ivan Winstanley, Lynch Pule, Sandile Ndlovu, Michael Mogaladi, Graham King, and Onismor Bhasera with their current head coach Fadlu Davids part of that team as a player.
Back in the first division for the 2007/08 season they appointed Ian Palmer who masterminded their return to the top league before being pushed out in favour of Gordon Igesund who then forced out first choice keeper Dominic Sithole of American flop Hunter Gilstrap.
Since then, they have finished in the bottom half 11 times while their best was fourth place in the 2017/18 season.
The following season they were in the Play-Offs but were in cruise control with four wins on the trot.
With Davids in charge this season, they are back walking in the mud after finishing 15th again and must now win against Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday at Harry Gwala (19h30) to stay up.
It is all or nothing for Maritzburg.
The Team of Choice must win to avoid sinking into the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
A draw will favour Spurs who have won three in a row and just need to avoid a defeat to gain promotion.
It will surely be tight considering the difference in the value of a DStv Premiership status compared to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
There is also a world of a difference in the amounts paid to clubs in the two leagues.
For now, Maritzburg are sitting on the fence and Wednesday evening's match will determine whether they remain in the top league or drop to the first division.
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