‘It never crossed our minds we could be relegated’ — Gallants coach Mdaka

Disappointed Marumo Gallants coach Raymond Mdaka has refused to use the club’s run in the Caf Confederation Cup as an excuse for their relegation from the DStv Premiership.

Gallants’ drop from the country’s lucrative top tier was confirmed after the side’s 2-0 loss to Swallows FC at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday. The relegation comes after their impressive run to the semifinals of the Confed Cup, where they lost 4-1 on aggregate to Tanzania's Young Africans last week.

Mdaka said though Bahlabani Ba Ntwa were among three teams that could be relegated ahead of the league’s final day on Saturday, they didn’t think it would be them who got axed.  

“The sad part is we lost in a situation where we had to lose the status of the club in the PSL [Premier Soccer League]. We are very sad about that,” Mdaka said.  

“It’s very difficult and we never expected it at all. As much as we were part of the three teams fighting against relegation, it never crossed our minds we could find ourselves in this situation.  

“We played but sometimes when you play and don’t score, chances are the other team will get the opportunity and score. The plan was to avoid conceding at all costs.”  

Gallants needed a draw against Swallows to avoid the chop.  

That result would have seen Maritzburg United relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship while Chippa United went to the PSL relegation/promotion playoffs, but that wasn't the case.  

Mdaka said Gallants cannot blame their sad demise on their participation in the taxing Confed Cup.

“No, we can’t say we got relegated because we played there [in the Confed semis].  

“We never ever said we were focusing on this and we are leaving this, it just happened. So  we wouldn’t blame this on whatever happened [in the Confed].”  

With their goalless draw against Golden Arrows, Chippa live to fight another season in the top tier while Maritzburg will attempt to save their status against Cape Town Spurs and Casric Stars in the playoffs.  

The playoffs will kick off on May 28 when Casric host Spurs. 

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