Bay United’s inconsistency is their own worst nightmare

IT is now or never for Port Elizabeth‘s Bay United, as they begin their last lap of the season against Kaizer Chiefs tonight. Who would have thought that a side that started the season with such a luminous run of form would find themselves in the ominous position they are currently in?
Umlilo‘s worst nightmare, as captain Duran Francis admitted, is none other than themselves as the side have been one of the most inconsistent in the Premier Soccer League this season.
“Our biggest downfall this season has been the lack of consistency. We didn‘t play at the same level throughout the season. We won the games everybody expected us to lose, and lost the ones we were meant to win,” said the captain.
With a record of five wins in 25 league games, it comes as no surprise that the Port Elizabeth outfit finds itself in its current position – with only two of those victories having come under the mentorship of former coach Vladislav Heric.
Relegation would be quite a calamity, not only for the city that had not boasted a club in top-flight football in over 13 years (the days of Michau Warriors and Blackpool) before Umlilo gained promotion to the PSL last year, but to the entire province of the Eastern Cape.
Should United be relegated, the city would be a host for the 2010 World Cup without having a team in the national league. One would also hope that the new gem of the city – the Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 multi-purpose stadium will not become a white elephant for the next 13 years.
It is encouraging though that senior players like Francis, Cyril Nzama and Jimmy Zakazaka, together with coach Khabo Zondo, still remain optimistic about their chances of survival. However, truth be told, it will take more than mere optimism for the side to scrape through the relegation battle.
Umlilo‘s fate does not lie solely in their own hands as they will be keeping their fingers crossed that fellow strugglers Bloemfontein Celtic and Thanda Royal Zulu collect as few points as possible in their remaining five matches. The slightest slip-up by Zondo‘s men will almost certainly seal the deal, and make it impossible for them to bounce back and retain their PSL status.
“We owe everything to our supporters who‘ve been there for us from the beginning. Everything we do, we do it for them. We will not disappoint them,” Francis once told me.
At this stage, it is for more than just the supporters. The players should do it for themselves and the club. Their own jobs are at stake, and for many of the veteran players like Francis, Nzama, Patrick Mayo and goalkeeper Arthur Bartman, should the club be relegated they may never play another PSL match after the end of the season, as age is definitely not on their side.
A bigger blow would be the fact that a large number of the younger players who have shown much promise throughout the season, like Gareth Ncaca, Zamuxolo Ngalo, Vincent Khumalo, Siyabulela Songwinqi and Zakazaka, would be snatched away by other PSL teams which will force the club to rebuild from scratch should the side be relegated to the National First Division.
One would hope that Zondo‘s hard work over the past month will pay off and that the players will heed his call to fight to the end, collecting as many of the 15 points available in their remaining matches – for the sake of the club, the city and the province.