The Premier Soccer League (PSL) season kicked off with a Durban derby on Wednesday — where Manning Rangers beat Zulu Royals 1-0 — while this weekend the big guns will be on show. The title may well go to whichever of the 16 teams can stand the test of time.
With 30 league games plus three cup tournaments (Super 8, Absa and Coca-Cola cups) on the menu, clubs also have to contend with the possibility of games being postponed due to the African Cup of Nations, Afro-Asian Cup, All Africa Games, and Olympic and World Cup qualifiers.
ORLANDO PIRATES: The current champions have been dealt heavy blows in their title defence with the death of striker Lesley Manyathela and the departure of captain and central defender Mbulelo Mabizela. The Buccaneers will need their new signings to quickly gel with the other players and their depth will be tested in the African champions’ league. Winger Patrick Thwala has been a revelation and he should set the league alight.
Coach: Roy Barreto
Captain: Papi Khomane
Prediction: Second, with at least one knock-out cup.
SUPERSPORT UNITED: Pitso Mosimane and his boys must be tired of being runners-up for the league title and will be hoping to go one better. But it could be a mammoth task for them to do so this season with their participation in the African champions’ league.
Coach: Pitso Mosimane
Captain: Themba Mnguni
Prediction: Fourth.
WITS UNIVERSITY: The Clever Boys are still drooling over last season’s achievements of being the fair club of the season and their coach being named coach of the season. They will need to have more zest if they are to contend for the title. But, then again, without much depth and consistency they might be happy to concentrate on participating in the CAF Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Coach: Roger de Sa
Captain: Charles Yohane
Prediction: Fifth.
MOROKA SWALLOWS: Their take off last season was excellent but, like Icarus, their wings were unable to withstand the heights. They missed a place in one of the continental tournaments by a whisker. Coach Gavin Hunt is adamant that they can regain the good old days with the league title their main ambition. The Birds’ recent signings leave a lot to be desired, however, with their bringing back the old crocks. But these strikers have delivered, with Dennis Lota scoring their winner in the Super 8 cup against Golden Arrows. The loss of players such as Jabulani Mendu and Abram Isaaks could leave them exposed.
Coach: Gavin Hunt
Captain: Gary McNab
Prediction: Silverware is on the cards for the Dube Birds.
GOLDEN ARROWS: After acquiring the services of Khabo Zondo they have stablised, but they are still pretenders due to a young squad that relies too heavily on striker Mabhuti Khanyeza. The Lamontville outfit lacks consistency.
Coach: Khabo Zondo
Captain: Tsepo Ntsoane
Prediction: Mid-table safety.
KAIZER CHIEFS: They have blown hot and cold since the inception of the PSL. They have a vast squad which lacks lethal strikers and contains too many midfielders who showboat. The defence is well-marshalled by Patrick Mabedi but goalkeeper Brian Baloyi has not had a great pre-season. The new signings have shown promise, especially Sibusiso Dlamini. New coach Ted Dimitru has promised the elusive championship title but once again Chiefs will have to look at cup competitions for glory unless the coach can get them to gel before midway through the season. Rene Richards could be the tonic needed by Chiefs to deliver those elusive goals.
Coach: Ted Dimitru
Captain: Brian Baloyi
Prediction: Top eight, with at least one cup trophy.
DYNAMOS: The Limpopo outfit have lost their rookie status to Silver Stars and are unlikely to repeat their exceptional performance of last season. Depth is what is needed in Dynamos and that their midfield supply good ball to Adam Ndlovu, who has been their scoring machine in the pre-season.
Coach: Jacob Sakala
Captain: Gerald Raphahlela
Prediction: Tenth.
JOMO COSMOS: The one consistent thing about this team is their unpredictability. The only thing that their supporters can be sure of is that Jomo Sono will produce another prodigy — who he will likely sell before the end of the season.
Coach: Jomo Sono
Captain: Manuel Bucuane
Prediction: Top eight with the chance of a trophy.
SANTOS: The time has finally come for this Cape team to settle down with just one coach. They have managed to win the league title before but are unlikely to reach those heights again in the foreseeable future. Cup competitions provide rich pickings for the People’s Team, who won the Top 8 (but failed to defend it by not making it in the top eight last season) and the inaugural Absa Cup. They have lost a great goalkeeper in Andre Arendse.
Coaches: Farouk Khan and Boebie Solomons
Captain: Edries Burton
Prediction: Mid-table, no cups.
SUNDOWNS: The sky is really the limit this season. With mining magnate Patrice Motsepe on board to deliver the cash and the arrival of coach Oscar Fullone, who has achieved a lot in Africa, all that is needed is focus. The team has recently acquired a number of new players including Ivorian Frank Kwela, Tiene Siaka, who was very impressive on his debut in the Telkom Charity Cup, and the likes of Andre Arendse and Clement Mazibuko. The only thing that worries about Sundowns is their lack of a depth among the strikers. They often seem to depend solely on the evergreen Daniel Mudau. The Pretoria outfit are capable of doing what they did three seasons ago — winning the league title three times in a row.Â
Coach: Oscar Fullone
Captain: Andre Arendse
Prediction: Champions.
Â
BLACK LEOPARDS: They have deceived their supporters for too long. Their best football was played in their first season in the league and from there they have faltered at every turn. They have sold off striker Sibusiso Dlamini, who helped them last season to avoid the dreaded axe of relegation. Their new signings have not impressed in the pre-season and the coach has a lot to do.Â
Coach: Walter Rautman
Captain: Thokozani Mnguni
Prediction: Fourteenth place will do.
Â
MANNING RANGERS: They were the inaugural PSL champions but have shown none of that greatness since. They have been busy in the transfer market trying to rebuild and have signed a new coach in former Bafana Bafana player Steve Komphela. Komphela has been on the outlook for players that can help him give a respectable performance in the league with the acquisition of Patrick Mbuthu, Welcome Mazibuko and Abram Isaaks.
Coach: Steve Komphela
Captain: Liswa Nduti
Prediction: Mid-table anonymity.
Â
AJAX CAPE TOWN: They have a great coach in Gordon Igesund, who has an impressive record winning three league titles with different teams. But last season was not a good year for Ajax and they missed the relegation axe by a whisker. Their youth policy did not pay off and experience is what is needed. A lot of work has to be done for the Cape team to lift their performance this season.Â
Coach: Gordon Igesund
Captain: Alfred Phiri
Prediction: A mid-table finish will restore Igesund’s pride.
Â
HELLENIC: They’ve avoided the relegation trapdoor by small margins in the past three seasons and this time the Greek Gods’ luck could run out. Their financial woes seem to hinder any hope of avoiding the drop.
Coach: Clemens Westerhof
Captain: Joas Magolego
Predicition: Relegation fodder.
Â
SILVER STARS: Despite a pleasing style of play and ousting Orlando Pirates from last season’s Absa Cup, Stars could be the exception to the rule that says Limpopo-based teams flourish in the top flight. Selling one of their best players, Sailor Tshabalala, to Pirates could come back to haunt them. The bickering between the owners doesn’t get the season off to a good start.
Coach: Owen da Gama
Captain: Dingane Masnabo.
Prediction: Straight back down.
ZULU ROYALS (formerly Amazulu): New chairperson Sisa Bikitsha has promised his amabuthu (soldiers) they will shed the tag of perennial yo-yo team. Usuthu is the name pronounced by their passionate supporters since the club’s formation in 1932, and this season they have returned to the original name of the Zulu Royals. Their new technical sponsor Reebok and recent signings might lift them back to those great heights, but first things first. A reasonable finish in the league is what is needed. They will be guided into battle by new Congolese coach Mulumba Mukeba and his assistant, Rhamadhan. The club has signed many respectable players such as Lucky Maselesele and Thabiso Malatsi.
Coaches: Mulumba Mukeba and Rhamadhan.
Captain: Joe Bwalya.
Prediction: Bikitsha says he wants a top eight finish. But the chairman should settle for lucky 13th.
Â