Such is the intensity of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title race among log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates that no stone is being left unturned by the three delicately balanced contenders to maximise their challenge.
With this in mind, third-placed Pirates appealed to the PSL for a postponement of their game against Bush Bucks on Wednesday — and their request has been granted on the basis they were only returning to South Africa from Mauritius after a 5-0 African Champions League win against Port Louis hours before they were due to pack their bags for East London.
”It was a valid request,” said a PSL spokesperson. ”We are trying to make up lost ground on fixtures. But It would have been unfair to handicap Pirates in the title race by placing them under this kind of acute pressure.”
The Buccaneers currently trail Sundowns by two points and Chiefs by four points in the log, but Pirates and the Brazilians have played two fewer games than Amakhosi and are tantalisingly poised to overtake the defending champions .
Chiefs have four remaining PSL games, while Sundowns and Pirates have six games each. The Brazilians and the Buccaneers’ next opportunity to close the gap will now be on Wednesday March 29, when Pirates entertain Golden Arrows at Ellis Park and Sundowns travel to East London to play Bush Bucks.
Victories for Sundowns and Pirates next week would create a situation whereby one of the two could ultimately emerge champions, with the Brazilians fatalistically due to face the Buccaneers in the final game on the PSL programme.
But extra pressure is also being placed on Sundowns and Pirates by virtue of their African Champions League commitments.
Chiefs, meanwhile, had their prospects of equalling Sundowns’ record of three successive PSL titles jolted as a result of the 1-1 draw with Moroka Swallows on Saturday.
Further bad news to emerge for the Amakhosi is that the prolific-scoring Gert Schalkwyk suffered a hamstring injury in the game in which he secured Chiefs’ equalising goal.
And with the coming weekend devoted to Absa Cup matches, Chiefs are without a league fixture this month as the tension for the PSL title mounts towards what appears a photo-finish result. — Sapa