The Soweto stars clinched their first league title since 1994
Ntuthuko Maphumulo
It took Orlando Pirates seven years, five different coaches, 90 minutes and three beautiful goals to clinch the Premier Soccer League (PSL) championship.
Gordon Igesund became the second coach to win the championship twice and the first to win it with two different teams. Igesund first won the championship with Manning Rangers in the 1996/97 season and, since he left at the beginning of the season, Rangers now face relegation.
Igesund and his new employers must be happy men after adding two cups to Pirates’ trophy cabinet and and two big cheques to their bank account this season.
It was fitting and sweet revenge for Pirates when they beat Ajax Cape Town 3-0 at a packed PAMBrink stadium to win the championship on Wednesday. The only trophy Pirates will regret never winning is the Rothmans Cup won 4-1 by Ajax Cape Town in a replay.
The PSL champagne, trophy and medals could not have arrived at a better time than on Wednesday. Igesund must have been doubly glad to get his hands on the trophy: when Pirates won the BPTop 8 trophy earlier this season the coach could not stay for the celebrations because he had to fly to Durban for his daughter’s wedding.
Pirates supporters’ night got off to a good start with an early goal from Jerry Sikhosana; the second from Pollen Ndlanya was the icing on the cake; and Thabang Lebese put the cherry on top with a third.
Thabo Mngomeni was a happy man despite not having played towards the end of the season not only did he get his hands on the league trophy, but he also picked up the Confederation of African Football’s goal of the year award earlier in the week for his bicycle kick against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 2000/2001 season showcased top-class PSL football. The championship race was tightly contested by more than three clubs. Whenever a winner looked imminent, the league just took another swing.
Kaizer Chiefs will regret not winning their two recent matches against Free State Stars (a loss) and Golden Arrows (a draw). A win on Wednesday night against Wits University was not enough to get the title, but could help them finish among the three top teams in the league if they win their remaining fixtures. To do so they will need to improve on their game as they have not been impressive since their return from the Seychelles.
Sundowns hopes of winning the title for the fourth time in a row were dashed by a 2-1 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic at the weekend. A win in the Bob Save Super Bowl final on June 9 against Santos might ease the pain of losing the title, though.
Celtic has been given a lifeline by the PSL disciplinary committee, which found the club guilty of fielding a player who had accumulated four yellow cards, fined them R75 000 (to be paid immediately) and ordered them to replay the match against Bush Bucks at a neutral venue.
Celtic general manager Bereng Kholoane said the club would not challenge the decision “for the sake of fair play”, but their supporters were unhappy about the outcome of the case.
They would be wise not to take the matter further as the PSL has again broken one of its own rules if teams field a suspended player they should lose the three points if they win.
Manning Rangers must beat Kaizer Chiefs in their final match to escape being the second team relegated. Moroka Swallows, who ended the season with a draw, will be have to wait and pin their hopes of avoiding relegation on both Manning Rangers and Bloemfontein Celtic losing.
KwaZulu-Natal was abuzz last weekend when two of the region’s favourite sports teams enjoyed great results.
The Natal Sharks rugby side came to the party after they beat the Cats 30-12 to represent the province and country against the Brumbies this weekend.
The Amazulu soccer team (Usuthu), who were plying their soccer skills in the MTN first division coastal stream league, advanced to the PSL after they beat Maritzburg City 2-0. This was a game Amazulu had to win and a draw between Park United and Phoenix City opened the gates to the elite for Usuthu.
To rub salt into their wounds, Maritzburg City also have to appear before the PSL disciplinary committee on Friday night for fielding a suspended player, Old-John Mbulelo, against Amazulu.
Joining Amazulu in the PSL are Black Leopards from the MTN league inland stream. These two teams will play each other to decide the MTN championship.
The PSL awaits a decision from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on when they are going stage the replay of the Ellis Park match abandoned after a crowd stampede.