The great Ronaldo was dubbed ”The Phenomenon” during the halcyon years in which he was proclaimed World Footballer of the Year on three occasions. And, in a more modest manner, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has unravelled a phenomenon of its own.
It goes by the name of Silver Stars, a club which has dumbfounded all and sundry this season by winning the lucrative Telkom Knockout trophy and racing into pole position in the PSL championship race with the impudence and audacity of a Michael Schumacher or Fernando Alonso.
And on Wednesday night the PSL’s ”Phenomenon” will be hoping to continue what to many seems a make-believe fairy tale by accounting for Kaizer Chiefs again at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace — this after having eliminated the mighty Amakhosi at the semi-inal stage of the Telkom Knockout.
Armed with grit, determination and unwavering discipline under coach Owen da Gama, but with a budget that amounts to no more than a few paltry crumbs in comparison with that of wealthy clubs like Chiefs, Stars are undaunted over the prospect of facing the fancied, but wounded, array of Amakhosi talent.
With Shaun Bartlett out owing to a serious knee injury and Siyabonga Nkosi also unavailable as a result of suspension, it would seem it is Chiefs who have their backs to the wall in Rustenburg.
And ironically, it is not Chiefs who loom as the best-placed team to remove Stars from the top of the log, but Wits University, another side who up until recently were looked upon as having modest ambitions.
The second-placed students face Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park on Wednesday afternoon in what should have been a crowd-pulling encounter.
But as a disciplinary measure for the rowdy behaviour of Pirates’ supporters, the game at Ellis Park will be played behind locked doors, with no paying spectators present.
But here, too, it is Wits who take the stage as the form team, with a professional, well-regimented combination under coach Boebie Solomons that is in direct contrast to the indecision, chaos and confusion that has emanated from the Buccaneers’ camp this season.
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns have a tough tussle on their hands as they attempt to improve their prospects of retaining the title against Jomo Cosmos at Huntersfield in an afternoon game, and SuperSport United and Moroka Swallows face off in an evening game at the Super Stadium. — Sapa
Wednesday’s Premier League fixtures:
Orlando Pirates vs Wits University at Ellis Park (3.45pm); Jomo Cosmos vs Mamelodi Sundowns at Huntersfield (3.45pm); Benoni United vs Golden Arrows at Mehlareng Stadium (3.45pm); Amazulu vs Ajax Cape Town at Princess Magogo Stadium (3.45pm); Silver Stars vs Kaizer Chiefs at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace (8pm); SuperSport United vs Moroka Swallows at the Super Stadium (7.30pm); Santos vs Black Leopards at Athlone Stadium (8pm).