Mathematically, current Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Kaizer Chiefs are in the best position to retain the title. All they have to do, to go with an already superior goal difference, is win four league games on the trot — something they haven’t been able to do the entire season.
They host Moroka Swallows on Saturday before travelling to Bush Bucks, Supersport and Bloemfontein Celtic.
But few would bet against Orlando Pirates lifting the country’s most coveted prize.
The Buccaneers opened up a six-point lead over their arch-rivals with their mid-week triumph over Ajax Cape Town. Wits University lay in wait on Sunday and their season is completed with a home fixture against Bush Bucks, who could well be the team to determine which part of Soweto has the biggest smile by the end of the month.
Sundowns would feel they’re still in with a shot, but with Supersport and Ajax to contend with, methinks not. If there were an award for most-improved team in the latter stages of the league, the gritty Bush Bucks would rank at the top. They’re still embroiled in a fierce relegation battle in which a mere four points separates the bottom seven teams (Santos, Dynamos, Bush Bucks, Black Leopards, Jomo Cosmos, Wits University and Manning Rangers).
The revitalised Imbabala (29 points) are undefeated in their last three league games and should fancy their chances at home against rock bottom Manning Rangers (26) this weekend.
Under the tutelage of one of their former greats, Professor Mlungisi Ngubane, they can then be more flamboyant against the Soweto giants in their remaining outings.
Bucks assistant coach Nigel Dixon said: ”At this stage we are focusing on one game at a time and would try to continue to maintain our current good run.”
The hapless Manning Rangers, winners of the inaugural PSL championship, ironically look as if they’re destined for the Mvela Golden League. They face fellow strugglers Jomo Cosmos (28) in their final game.
Cosmos take on Dynamos (29) this weekend but could find Sandile Ndlovu too hot to handle as he pursues Collins Mbesuma’s two-goal lead at present for the Top Goal Scorer of the Season award.
Dynamos play Ajax away and Golden Arrows at home to complete their league commitments. They have the added pressure or incentive of an Absa semifinal clash with Wits University next week.
Wits (27), second from the bottom of the league table, are on tenterhooks. They have a difficult run-in with Pirates and an away trip to Silver Stars to complete their league season. Roger de Sa will have his work cut out to motivate his players after their usually reliable goal-keeper, Wayne Roberts, recently gave Chiefs three points with an uncharacteristic blunder.
Santos (30) wrap up their league campaign against Silver Stars at the Athlone stadium on Saturday before they turn their sights on Supersport a week later in the Absa Cup semis.
Black Leopards (29) tackle Ajax in Limpopo province this weekend and Swallows in Johannesburg on the last day of the season. Only one PSL team will automatically be relegated to the Mvela Golden League while the second from the bottom goes into a four-way play-off with three teams from the first division. The winner of the Mvela Golden League, at this stage Roy Barreto’s Free State Stars, look a sure bet to make a return to the PSL, which holds a R2,6-million prize for this year’s winner.