The Premier Soccer League did not expect to have smooth running this season after cutting down the teams from 18 to 16. But lo and behold, it created one of the most exciting first halves of the soccer season.
With two competitions already out of the way — the Telkom Charity Cup and Super Eight Cup — and one still in progress (the Coca-Cola Cup) and another expected in March, soccer lovers should brace themselves for a feast of soccer next year.
The Castle Premiership is already gaining momentum after just 10 games with 20 to go. Leading the pack for this title race are Ajax Cape Town under the tutelage of three-time league-winning coach Gordon Igesund. Close on his heels are Kaizer Chiefs, who have been wondering what they need to do to clinch the league title that they last won 10 years ago.
The other teams, including defending champions of the league title Orlando Pirates, are not looking to take things as they are standing.
Pirates have recently regained the form that won them the title last season. With the most expensive side assembled to date in the league, Sundowns are pondering their failure to produce the kind of soccer that won them the league title three times in a row in the early 1990s. The title race is just beginning to hot up.
While the big teams are fighting it out to get the three points in their quest for the championship title, newly promoted team Silver Stars are rewriting the history books. Last week they became the first Limpopo team to reach the final of the richest domestic cup in Africa, the Coca-Cola Cup.
These rookies will come face to face with cup specialists Kaizer Chiefs on December 6. After this final, the soccer supporters will have to wait a week before getting to watch the much-talked-about derby in the country that can leave families torn apart: Kaizer Chiefs versus Orlando Pirates.
For those that are not tickled by their club loyalty, in January the Nations Cup will take centre stage with South Africa hoping to win this trophy in order to send the message to Fifa that the country is ready to host the 2010 World Cup.
This announcement is one that five African countries will be waiting with bated breath to hear come May.
So during the festive season, soccer supporters should welcome the break to be in top condition for the Nations Cup and hopefully a party mood for the 2010 World Cup announcement.