Cape Town Spurs head coach Shaun Bartlett has slammed the officiating during his side's draw with Tuks as Spurs lost out on automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership on the last day.
The Urban Warriors went to the last fixture of the Motsepe Foundation Championship against the University of Pretoria needing a win to secure automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership and with it, the R5 million rand cash prize.
It was not to be, however, as the Students held Spurs to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Athlone Stadium with goals coming from Tuks midfielder Samuel Julies before Spurs striker Therlo Moosa equalised late into the match.
Spurs subsequently finished second behind Polokwane City and will now head to the playoffs alongside third-placed Casric Stars.
"It's not the result we wanted from the beginning. I never want to complain, but that's one of the worst games I've seen in terms of officiating," a fuming Bartlett told SuperSport TV.
"We couldn't get anywhere near the box, everything was always against us. We hardly touched [Tuks] players but at the end of the day, we've now got to keep our head up and try and do it the hard way which is obviously in the playoffs.
"Now we've extended our season by another what? Five or six weeks? We were hoping to get it wrapped out today [Sunday], it didn't happen."
"Now we have to regroup, like you say, get the players motivated against. Four games to go now and we have to have to do it the hard way but I think it's well possible for us to do it."
Cape Town Spurs coach Shaun Bartlett reflects on missing out on automatic to the #DStvPrem ?? pic.twitter.com/vdrCD8z59j
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) May 14, 2023
Meanwhile, in the DStv Premiership Maritzburg United, Marumo Gallants and Chippa United and Richards Bay are all at risk of being relegated to the Championship.
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