As heartbreaking and sad as it sounds, I think it’s safe to say – and perhaps all can agree – that Junction Rovers is dead and buried and will be relegated to Safa Cape Town’s Third Division next season.
This, even though Junction’s (7 points) nearest rival in the relegation zone, Inter City (14), was hammered 4-0 by the log leaders Hout Bay United FC at the Military Base on Wednesday evening.
With eight games remaining, one cannot see where the points will come from for coach Chrissando de Weber (pictured) and his Junction troops, as they have a daunting fixture list ahead. They play Hanover Park FC on Saturday (home), followed by FN Rangers (away) a week later. Not to mention another challenging encounter against Vasco da Gama at home on 25 April.
A week later, they welcome Santos to the ‘Harry Gwala’ before they travel away to Strand to face Young Bafana in their backyard. De Weber will then have to prepare to face Seaside Spurs at their home venue in Heideveld on 15 May before they square up for two of the toughest oppositions in the league – Cape Town Spurs (23 May) followed by Hout Bay a week later (3o may) with both these games to played away from home.
Given this gruelling schedule, it appears that pride is probably the only consolation, if any, for the team from Heideveld, who, in all fairness, have been huffing and puffing in the ABC Motsepe League for the previous three seasons.
One really feels for De Weber as he is a nice guy and an honest individual. Needless to say, he has tried his best under extremely difficult circumstances with lack of financial support and resources. One sincerely hopes that valuable lessons have been learnt, and when they return one day, they will be better prepared and equipped with a constructive plan to be much more competitive in the Second Division, on and off the field.
