WHEN PSL clubs get relegated to the lower National First Division, they usually work on finding a quick way back to the elite league.
But such plans do not always work out.
Now 2000-01 Absa Premiership champions Santos find themselves in real danger of not only failing to get back to the top flight but losing their NFD status too.
The People’s Team have only managed to earn 11 points from 15 matches in the first round of the season and are joint bottom of the table.
NFD rookies Magesi FC, who are also at the bottom of the table on the same number of points, have even won one match more than they have.
Santos and former PSL greats Moroka Swallows, now playing in the ABC Motsepe League, have former coach Zeca Marques in common. Marques threw in the towel recently and resigned when results were not coming.
Santos chairman Goolam Allie believes they will get out of the relegation zone and survive the season when the league resumes next year.
He said they would need to strengthen the team in order to make sure they get the results they want.
Said Allie: “There are a few games we lost despite playing really well.
“Results have not been going our way. And when we don’t get results, players’ heads start hanging and it affects performance.”
Allie doesn’t think Santos will go the same route as Swallows.
“There’s always going to be prophets of doom. We do things honestly, play honestly and have never cheated. There’s more to football than football,” he said.
Allie believes new coach Tony de Nobrega will be able to rescue the club from the clutches of relegation.
He added: “We need a bit of strengthening. We have to look for two or three experienced players. We have been playing well, we have just not had the luck.
“Tony is a breath of fresh air. He has worked in the NFD and knows how things work. He will do well and get the results we need when the season resumes.”
