Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has finally broken his silence and spoke up for the first time since his side got relegated from the DStv Premiership.

The Team of Choice had to fight for their survival in the PSL playoffs after they finished in 15th place in the DStv Premiership standings during the 2022-23 season.

Maritzburg secured two wins in their first three fixtures during the playoffs while suffering their only defeat against Cape Town Spurs.

The Team of Choice needed a win in their final playoffs fixture against Spurs but could not find the back of the net and had to settle for a goalless draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium ensuring their relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Champions.

The Maritzburg chairman has since released the following statement upon their relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship:

“To all the valued supporters and stakeholders of our esteemed team, Wednesday, the 14th of June, will forever be remembered as a somber night in our football history, spanning two decades.”

“It was an evening when, despite the presence of 12,000 passionate fans at our renowned Harry Gwala Stadium, which had been hailed as an impenetrable fortress for visiting teams until this season, we regrettably succumbed to the despairing fate of relegation.

“To the members of the board, it was a moment of disappointment, as the inability to score even a single goal came at a significant financial cost of R50 million.

“To our city, over the course of two decades, we had strived to provide captivating entertainment that brought together diverse cultures with love and passion. Unfortunately, we fell short in delivering at the crucial moment.

“To the players, we felt betrayed by a few individuals whose questionable concessions of goals during the critical stages of our battle for survival proved detrimental. The absence of an attacking approach in search of a winning goal was overshadowed by unappealing defensive tactics.

“It is disheartening to realise that you unwittingly assisted those who hindered our progress, even as the club diligently fulfilled its obligation to honour your contracts and provide timely salary payments.

“This was particularly challenging as reports surfaced of numerous teams facing their own difficulties in meeting payroll obligations. Undoubtedly, this season presented us with a multitude of obstacles, yet we failed to rise to the occasion as we had consistently done, especially in the previous playoff and our resilient fight against Jomo Cosmos in 2016.

“Despite being given a chance to redeem ourselves in the playoff and receiving what could be considered a divine intervention for the club, some individuals had alternative motives that diverted us from our path.

“However, it is imperative that we leave the past behind us.

“Let us remain united and exhibit unwavering determination to reclaim our rightful place in the football hierarchy.”