Yaya Sithole’s side deep in relegation trouble

Sphephelo Sithole came on as a second-half substitute but proved unable to help his struggling Portuguese side Tondela avoid defeat on Sunday and now faces the stark reality of relegation.

The Bafana Bafana midfielder featured for the last 27 minutes of the 2-0 defeat at runaway leaders FC Porto, which has left Tondela mired deep in relegation trouble.

With five games to play in the season, the club have 21 points and sit second from bottom in the Primeira Liga. They are five points from potential safety.

Sithole, who the Portuguese nicknamed “Yaya”, has started just over half of the league fixtures that Tondela have played this season and contributed a single goal back in September when the club won away at Santa Clara – one of only four victories in 29 games they have played in the Portuguese top flight this season.

Tondela, who are on their third coach for the season, are without a win in their last six outings but next Saturday host Nacional, who sit only two places above them in the standings, and have an opportunity to gain a valuable three points.

This is the seventh season that the 27-year-old Sithole has played in Portugal. He moved from KZN Academy to Portugal as a teenager.