Baroka try to defy the odds

Baroka FC enter the Premier Soccer League's promotion-relegation play-offs tomorrow knowing that history is against them as top-flight sides have had little joy in the competition since it was first played in the 2004-2005 season.

Baroka travel to Stellenbosch FC in their mini-league opener and must also take on Limpopo rivals Black Leopards.

The top team in the round-robin tournament will play in the Absa Premiership next season.

In the past 12 play-off tournaments, only three teams from the top tier have managed to win.

Only AmaZulu (2006-2007), Mpumalanga Black Aces (2009-2010) and Polokwane City (2013-2014) have managed to buck the trend.

Last season University of Pretoria finished bottom of the mini-league as Highlands Park went up.

The reasons for the failure of the top-flight sides are varied, but one of the biggest is momentum.

While the National First Division teams come off a successful campaign and winning culture, for the Premiership clubs it is the opposite as numerous losses eat away at confidence.

Baroka have a bit of form though: they lost only one of their past six league games, though there was only a single win, with four draws.

Manning Rangers were entered into the first play-offs but came unstuck at the semifinal stage, losing 6-3 on aggregate to the now defunct Hellenic.

In the 2005-2006 campaign, Umtata Bush Bucks had to fight for survival but did not make the final, losing both legs to Vasco da Gama for a 4-1 aggregate score.

AmaZulu bucked the trend when they beat FC AK 4-1 on aggregate in the semifinals before completing a 3-1 success over University of Pretoria to become the first top-flight side to retain their status.

Black Leopards lost their 2007-2008 semifinal to Bay United, 2-1 on aggregate, to drop a division.

Thanda Royal Zulu, who won automatic promotion this season, at least made the play-off final the following season in 2008-2009, but could not keep their status.

They defeated FC Cape Town in the semis before losing 3-0 to Mpumalanga Black Aces on aggregate in the final. They became the second top-flight side to retain their place in the Premiership.

They beat Nathi Lions 4-2 in the semifinal and Black Leopards 5-3 on penalties in the final.

But normal order was resumed in 2010-2011 as Vasco da Gama could not retain their top-flight status and lost in the semifinals 4-2 on aggregate to Black Leopards, who beat Bay United in the final.

Santos finished bottom of the mini-league as the format changed in 2012, managing just two draws in their four games.

But Polokwane City showed the way with a commanding performance a year later as they took 10 points from a possible 12 and beat off Black Leopards and Milano United for top spot.

Moroka Swallows finished bottom of the league that also contained Jomo Cosmos and Leopards in 2014-2015 before AmaTuks did likewise in the last campaign as they capitulated with no wins from their four games.