WITH one match remaining before the current PSL campaign comes to an end, Maritzburg United interim coach Fadlu Davids has said a point would be enough to secure a top eight finish for them.
While the Team of Choice will have a top eight berth on their minds when they host Bloemfontein Celtic at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday (3pm), Celtic will be firmly focused on avoiding relegation.
Maritzburg are seventh in the league table with 37 points, one point ahead of eighth placed Ajax Cape Town with one round of matches left.
Celtic can just about see the ghost of relegation from their spot in 12th place in the standings on just 28 points – three points above bottom club Baroka FC.
Anything can happen in this match and both teams need victory to achieve their respective goals.
Davids said: “It’s all in our hands now.”
He strongly believes a draw would confirm their stay in the top eight bracket and see them qualify for the MTN8: “But we are not going into this match with that mentality. We want to win it and end the season the way we started – with victory over them.”
United beat Celtic 1-0 away in their opening fixture of the season. Davids said that while they were looking forward to completing the double over struggling Celtic, they would go in with their eyes wide open.
“Celtic are no pushovers. They know that three points would make them safe from relegation. That could make things tough for us. I know they will make our lives difficult but we are positive we will retain our top eight spot on Saturday.”
In the meantime, despite all his success at the club, Davids is still reluctant to talk about whether he is interested in mentoring the team on a permanent basis.
Being interim coach at United has kept him busy this season. He first took over in November last year when Ernst Middendorp left and again in March this year after Roger de Sa had called it quits.
He has been in charge of the team for 13 matches – winning six, drawing five and losing only two.
Said Davids: “I would rather talk about what we want to achieve this season – and about what we have already achieved.”