There was no shortage of action, entertainment or drama in the first half of the Castle Premiership season. These entertainers — or footballers, as some would like to call them — have stood the test of time after 15 league games and two cup competitions.
The winners of the past five months of the season were Supersport United and Kaizer Chiefs, who each took home silverware and cheques worth more than R1-million in the Supa 8 and Coca-Cola Cup, respectively.
Supersport United created the deceptive impression of being a formidable team by doing well in the cups. They reached the top eight in the African champions league before bowing out of the tournament, then went on to win the Supa 8 and lost to Kaizer Chiefs in the Coke Cup final.
However, they reached both domestic cup finals via penalties and — take away the gloss provided by cup competitions — what is left is a team performing below par in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The Pretoria outfit languishes eighth in the log after beating Wits University 2-1 on Tuesday night, just three points above Bush Bucks, who prop up the table.
Current champions Kaizer Chiefs were Supersport’s opposition in the Supa 8 final before winning the Coke Cup for the third time and retiring the trophy.
But what needs to worry the defending champions is their league position: third, with three games in hand on both Sundowns and log leaders Orlando Pirates. More worrying for the Glamour Boys is that after 16 games they are 11 points behind their greatest rivals.
Then there have been several games that set the league alight for various reasons — including the derby between Chiefs and Pirates, which rated as one of the games of the first round.
But for sheer skill and excitement, the match-ups between Pirates and Sundowns have provided the highlights. Some scintillating football was played in both the Coke Cup last 16 match, won by Sundowns, and the league game, won by Pirates. With honours even between the sides, the second-round fixture on April 2 is a mouthwatering prospect.
There were also the two excellent semifinals between Moroka Swallows and Chiefs in the Coke and Supa 8 cups that had the ”sold-out” signs going up in Durban a week before the games.
Among the players who have caught the eye is Emmanuel Ngobese of Kaizer Chiefs, who has been dazzling. His team-mate, Collins Mbesuma, has scored some beauties (nine in the league and three each in the domestic cups) in a side that has struggled for goals.
Mbesuma is in line for the Golden Boot award at the end of the season and could break the 14-goal record set last season by Jackie Ledwaba. Steve Leokoelea, Gift Leremi and Phumudzo Manenzhe of Orlando Pirates have also played exceptionally well.
But perhaps the best single performance so far was from Sibonisa Gaxa of Supersport United, who man-marked Mbesuma out of the game in the Supa 8 final.
Players to watch include Sandile Ndlovu of Dynamos, who has been a revelation in helping the unfashionable Limpopo side climb the table. He again performed well on Wednesday night as Dynamos held Chiefs to a 1-1 draw. Siyabonga Nkosi of Bloemfontein Celtic and Mhlonishwa Mbambo of Bush Bucks are also starting to shine.
The losers so far are Bush Bucks — who, despite finding a big corporate backer and appointing Bruce Grobbelaar as manager, are staring relegation in the face — and Sundowns.
With Patrice Motsepe’s millions, Sundowns bought all the best players available in the premiership but have flattered to deceive on the field and failed to utilise this clout off it by marketing the team to potential supporters around Pretoria.
They earn their losers tag also by firing coach Paul Dolezar for alleged ”underachieving” — amazing, because when he left, the team was in second place in the league.
Sundowns have undergone some sort of a revival under Angel Cappa, winning their past two games — including a come-from-behind victory against Santos on Wednesday — and keeping pace in the league race. Nevertheless they remain seven points behind Pirates, having played the same number of games.
Fans have generally got their R20-worth of good football, and increased attendances are the reward for clubs and the league.
Now the race for both the championship and avoiding relegation begins in earnest. Hopefully then the contenders and pretenders to the title will show themselves.