The debate has been raging about the #PSL promotion and relegation playoffs and I must admit that I too have been in the “scrap it” camp. The arguments for and against were compelling so I decided to take a deeper look.
This is what I found
Thread 👇🏽
As usual, I referred to the official PSL reading material as a start, in this instance, The NSL Handbook.
The play-off rules are quite simple. The PSL team in 15th plays against 2nd and 3rd in the NFD in a mini tournament and the team which finishes top gets promoted.
In the most recent playoff, @BlackLeopardsFC easily won three matches in a row and have a goal difference of +5 ahead of their last match against TTM today.
But what does history tell us about the playoff and does it always favor the #PSL side?
The first play-offmini tournament was played in the 2004/05 season and it has since been dominated by the teams from the second tier. In the 16 play-off tournaments played, just five #PSL teams have managed to win it.
#PSL
My understanding was the opposite and I was of the view that greater resources alone will always give the bigger clubs an advantage. The PSL clubs get a monthly grant of R2million while the NFD sides only get R500 000.
Money matters in football, right..
Its clear from history that resources alone will not save a team. It doesn't always matter if you have a bigger squad and better individual players.
Generally speaking, the NFD sides have the greater motivation and are on form.
When it comes to the PSL sides, they would have been performing badly all season and are therefore easier to beat.
Leopards for example won only three of their last ten #AbsaPrem games, conceding 14 goals in the recently concluded season.
In conclusion, the mini tournament may seem unfair to the NFD sides who have worked hard to get themselves into that position.
Granted the PSL sides have won two of the last three play-offs but history says its usually the NFD sides that emerge victorious.
My opinion on the play-off has not really changed though and I am still of the view that it is unnecessary.
Lastly, S/O to @SnezzyMbatha for getting this debate started and @AfricaUnited_F as well as @njabulo__sibiya who's feedback helped shape some of my thinking.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.