Sven Yidah’s coach reacts to Marumo Gallants relegation

© Marumo Gallants

FOOTBALL Sven Yidah’s coach reacts to Marumo Gallants relegation

Festus Chuma 11:22 - 21.05.2023

The team saw their South Premier Soccer League status evaporate in their eyes on Saturday afternoon.

Marumo Gallants coach Raymond Mdaka has been saddened by his team's relegation from South Africa Premier Soccer League.

Gallants needed to win their last game of the season on Saturday against Swallows to save themselves from automatic relegation.

However, they failed to do so as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Dobsonville Stadium and were relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

"I am shattered. It never crossed my mind that this (relegation) would happen," said Marumo coach Raymond Mdaka.

"We were on top of the world just a few weeks ago -- eliminating the powerful Egyptian club Pyramids in a Confederation Cup quarter-final and picking up valuable league points at home."

Gallants endured a poor campaign in the PSL despite shining in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they bowed out at the semi-final stage.

"What probably counted against us in the end was a lack of strength in depth. We are a small club and lack the financial resources of many other South African teams," Mdaka added.

"The boys were a little tired lately from all the travel -- we visited Madagascar, Libya twice, Zambia, Algeria, Egypt and Tanzania to reach the Confederation Cup semi-finals."

In the match against Swallows, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa was without the services of dependable striker Ranga Chivaviro who was suspended for the tie.

Former Nairobi City Stars midfielder Yidah also missed the clash after falling the pecking order.

Yidah failed to make a single Dstv Premiership match since joining the side in August 2022 and was restricted to just a few appearances, and has been on the match list only five times.

Marumo Gallants were known as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) before renaming in 2021.

TTM had originally become a professional team in 2017 when they bought the National First Division franchise of Milano United.