Kaizer Chiefs fans’ celebrations have been put on hold for a week. What stands between the Glamour Boys and ending a 12-year league title drought is the small matter of three points. If Chiefs can overcome Moroka Swallows at the Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday, rivals Ajax Cape Town and Wits University will be left with only second place to fight over.
To add some spice to the mix, Chiefs’ final match is against Wits — meaning that Amakhosi can decide not only who wins the league, but which team is the runner-up.
Second place is not to be sneezed at as it provides passage to the African champions league, worth $1-million next season.
The black-and-gold-jersey team’s record of 17 wins, eight draws and three losses has put them at the summit of the premiership with 59 points. Coach Ted Dumitru, who was among the nominees for the coach for the season award, said: ‘The league trophy is in our hands. Only a catastrophic event can prevent us from winning the title.â€Â
Amakhosi were beginning to worry after back-to-back losses to arch rivals Orlando Pirates and Supersport United. Dumitru says the turning point was the game against Zulu Royals, a fortnight ago, where Chiefs emerged comfortable 4-1 winners.Â
The Romanian-born coach says his team is in high spirits and the game against Swallows will be the game of the season. He says everyone wants to see Chiefs win and play good football.
Owen da Gama of Silver Stars, also a coach of the season nominee, agrees: ‘It would be good for football if Chiefs win the league title.â€
But to bag the title, Chiefs will need to improve their overall performance. A worry has been their strikers’ inability to find the back of the net. It has taken a rejuvenated John Moshoeu — who scored a hat-trick against Royals — a draw against Santos and Ajax’s misfortunes to keep alive Chiefs’ hopes of lifting the R2,4-million league winners’ cheque.
After a draw with Sundowns and a loss to Swallows, Ajax coach Gordon Igesund has accepted second-best: ‘It would be difficult to clinch the title from Chiefs as it is unlikely for the Glamour Boys to slip up.â€
Ajax must now focus on clinching second place and holding off surprise package Wits, who have made a late run to challenge for the title.
Ajax have a tough encounter against Black Leopards on Saturday in Thoyohandou. The Limpopo side will be no pushovers as they are determined to maintain their league position (eighth) and be in the Super 8 next season.
At the other end of the table, Hellenic — whose relegation looked a foregone conclusion —seem to be rising like a phoenix from the ashes. The win against Pirates gave Hellenic a glimmer of hope of staying among the elite.Â
Bloemfontein Celtic and Bush Bucks have been promoted with two games remaining. They will play for R100 000 to determine the overall winner of the first division on June 13.