No place in South African soccer is more intense, electric and immersed in a downright feverish atmosphere these days than Bloemfontein’s Seisa Ramabodu Stadium when the city’s revered Bloemfontein Celtic cross swords with one of the supposed glamour teams of the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
On Sunday afternoon, it will be the turn of Kaizer Chiefs to enter this emotional cauldron with what is effectively a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
A morale-boosting success in the Telkom Knockout final against Mamelodi Sundowns, albeit through the dicey mode of a penalty shootout after extra time, and a seemingly clear-cut 4-2 league victory against Golden Arrows on Wednesday have given hope to Amakhosi supporters that their team are poised to rekindle some of their former magic.
In the circumstances, there could be few more revealing tests for Chiefs at this juncture than a visit to Seisa Ramabodu — one of the few venues in the country where their support base does not overshadow that of the opposition.
Indeed, if anything, the green-and-white colouring with which Celtic and their supporters are adorned, in keeping with the colours of the Glasgow club whose name they share, could be more visible on this occasion than Chiefs’ black-and-gold.
With Celtic on the heels of log leaders Ajax Cape Town in the championship race and Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral emphasising that the PSL title is the one he is chasing above all others — ”because the league championship is always the most prestigious prize, no matter where you go in the world” — no quarter will be given or asked for between the two focused teams.
Celtic and Chiefs go into this fiery showdown on the back of encouraging victories over Jomo Cosmos and Arrows respectively, but this will be a watershed occasion regarding their championship aspirations.
Also on Sunday afternoon, a revitalised Moroka Swallows will be hoping rise from their own ashes when they confront Amazulu at the Germiston Stadium, expecting Zambian international James Chamanga to continue his amazing scoring spree.
Five goals in the Birds’ 6-2 demolition of Platinum Stars last Sunday and two more in the impressive 2-0 away victory over Free State Stars on Wednesday have elevated Chamanga to a position where he is the hottest property in the PSL right now — mere months after he was shown the door by his former club, SuperSport United. — Sapa