LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows' relegation at the hands of their bitter provincial rivals AmaZulu left coach Shaun Bartlett sunken-eyed and forlorn.
After a 14-year stay in the top flight, Abafana Bes'thende plunged into the National First Division abyss, which proves harder to get out of every season.
However, Bartlett said he was proud of how his team fought until the bitter end, even though their goal-scoring Achilles heel proved to be their downfall. They dominated large parts of Tuesday's encounter, but went down 1-0.
"For all the good play, if you can't put the ball in the back of the net, you can't win any games. That has been the story of our season. That's why we found ourselves at the bottom," a sad Bartlett said.
"This has been a gradual recession process. Bheka Phakathi and I took over at a desperate stage and when we walked in, the club was in dire straits. We gave it our best shot but I also think we took too long to get results."
Demotion will have its casualties and though Arrows were comfortably the weakest Premier Soccer League unit, they have prized assets that they will be hard-pressed to keep.
With an academic league clash against Orlando Pirates to follow on Saturday, Bartlett was non-committal with regards to his future, along with those of several stars, even though he hinted at a prolonged stay.
"Relegation was never part of my brief, but with the reality now upon us, we have to sit down with the owner [Mato Madlala] and reassess the future. I have worked with these players for the past five months and I don't mind doing so again," Bartlett said.
"There are three or four players that the bigger clubs will attract, but many of them will have to look for new jobs. I had been telling them that they have been fighting for their jobs and their lives because they have PSL, not NFD contracts."
AmaZulu assistant coach Wilfred Mugeyi did not dance on his opponents' graves, especially with a potential top-eight-sealing fixture against Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane on Saturday on the cards. AmaZulu moved to seventh position on the log, priming themselves for a second top-eight finish in four seasons.
Mugeyi praised his team's mental strength, especially with coach Craig Rosslee losing his father.
"His heart was here and he called me twice before the game and the guys have dedicated this win to him," Mugeyi said.
Arrows into abyss
LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows' relegation at the hands of their bitter provincial rivals AmaZulu left coach Shaun Bartlett sunken-eyed and forlorn.
After a 14-year stay in the top flight, Abafana Bes'thende plunged into the National First Division abyss, which proves harder to get out of every season.
However, Bartlett said he was proud of how his team fought until the bitter end, even though their goal-scoring Achilles heel proved to be their downfall. They dominated large parts of Tuesday's encounter, but went down 1-0.
"For all the good play, if you can't put the ball in the back of the net, you can't win any games. That has been the story of our season. That's why we found ourselves at the bottom," a sad Bartlett said.
"This has been a gradual recession process. Bheka Phakathi and I took over at a desperate stage and when we walked in, the club was in dire straits. We gave it our best shot but I also think we took too long to get results."
Demotion will have its casualties and though Arrows were comfortably the weakest Premier Soccer League unit, they have prized assets that they will be hard-pressed to keep.
With an academic league clash against Orlando Pirates to follow on Saturday, Bartlett was non-committal with regards to his future, along with those of several stars, even though he hinted at a prolonged stay.
"Relegation was never part of my brief, but with the reality now upon us, we have to sit down with the owner [Mato Madlala] and reassess the future. I have worked with these players for the past five months and I don't mind doing so again," Bartlett said.
"There are three or four players that the bigger clubs will attract, but many of them will have to look for new jobs. I had been telling them that they have been fighting for their jobs and their lives because they have PSL, not NFD contracts."
AmaZulu assistant coach Wilfred Mugeyi did not dance on his opponents' graves, especially with a potential top-eight-sealing fixture against Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane on Saturday on the cards. AmaZulu moved to seventh position on the log, priming themselves for a second top-eight finish in four seasons.
Mugeyi praised his team's mental strength, especially with coach Craig Rosslee losing his father.
"His heart was here and he called me twice before the game and the guys have dedicated this win to him," Mugeyi said.
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