Rapule Tabane
SuperSport look likely to hold on to the Absa premiership league title. Having collected over 53 points with three fixtures left, it’s for them to throw away.
Their rivals, Orlando Pirates, have done well to stay in sight and in close contest. But for millions of supporters of the cross and skull another barren season is likely.
They can draw comfort from having played well throughout the season. They have conceded the least number of goals and could produce the league’s player of the year in midfielder Teko Modise or defender Lucas Thwala.
I feel it’s tragic that SuperSport United, which sees no value in the prestige of playing in the Champions League, will again be the team to represent the country.
United deliberately fielded their weaker players against Kampala City Council, leaving the likes of Mozambican star Elias Pelembe on the bench and opting for Mulondo Shikiwivulu, who does not normally feature in either the starting 11 or on the bench.
On the other side of the log, it is clear that Bay United is gone. They are paying the price for firing their former coach Vladislav Heric who helped the team get promoted from the first division. The other team will surely be Bloemfontein Celtic or Thanda Royal Zulu.
Celtic has the easier set of fixtures. Except for Free State Stars, the other three teams they face, Santos, Platinum Stars and Bay United, have been struggling lately and are beatable.
Thanda Royal Zulu has tougher assignments against the likes of Ajax Cape Town and Maritzburg United. But my gut feel tells me Celtic will occupy the second relegation spot at the end of the season. I also believe that they will take advantage of the unfair system of playoffs to win against First Division teams and retain their place in the PSL.
Phathisani Moyo
Gavin Hunt may not have a history of playing attractive soccer but he certainly knows how to win. The SuperSport coach seems to have done enough for a second successive Premiership title even with three games remaining.
Second-placed Orlando Pirates, the only club with a realistic chance of dislodging the defending champions, can only hope and pray for a miracle. God would surely be a Buccaneer if Matsatsantsa were to lose their last three matches and surrender the crown to Pirates.
With the league an almost foregone conclusion, the focus has shifted to the bottom of the table, where the struggle for survival has reached boiling point. Bloemfontein Celtic and Thanda Royal Zulu are in a desperate battle to avoid joining Bay United in the unfashionable National First Division.
Thanda have enlisted the services of Professor Ngubane to perform a Houdini act. The welcome 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in Ngubane’s first match in charge has given the Durban side a glimmer of hope.
It is difficult to comprehend how a team such as Celtic put themselves in this precarious position. There is hardly a better advertisement for the PSL than the sea of green and white Celtic supporters.
Lucky Sindane
Oh what a season it has been!
Hats off to the SuperSport United mentor Gavin Hunt. He is an inch away from guiding Matsatsantsa a Pitori to their second successive league title.
When Hunt took over from Pitso Mosimane last season things didn’t work out for him initially as his team struggled. But patience on the part of management and the supporters has paid off.
As things stand, SuperSport lead the pack with 53 points and three games to go. It does not look like there is a team that will steal the title from them.
Second-placed Orlando Pirates can only pin their hopes on SuperSport losing their last three matches. This is the dream of the Pirates faithful. Some dreams do come true, but the Bucs’ gods will have a tough task fulfilling this one. Pirates have 47 points with a game in hand.
SuperSport has been playing well throughout the season, showing a hunger for success. They deserve to win the league.
At the bottom of the log is an interesting battle for survival. Newcomers Bay United, who have been languishing at the bottom of the table the whole season, are the likely candidates for relegation. They deserve it as they upped their game only when playing against the so-called big teams.
Bloemfontein Celtic are also not in a good position. It would be sad if they were relegated because of the good sportsmanship their passionate supporters have shown.
Thanda Royal Zulu are also in danger of the chop. They survived last season but are once again fighting for survival, six points clear of Celtic.
Percy Zvomuya
SuperSport United are certain to win the championship. The way the club is run is also winning them neutral support.
But the same can’t be said about Mamelodi Sundowns. Their turnover of coaches kills any semblance of rhythm and doesn’t give a coach time to settle and lay out his vision.
It’s not a coincidence that some of the greatest coaches in the modern game (Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Alex Ferguson at Manchester United) have been at their clubs for more than a decade. It might not be such a bad thing that Thanda Royal Zulu and Bay United will go down for an easier ride in the lower division.
Thabo Mohlala
With the 2008-09 PSL soccer season tapering off, teams at both ends of the log table are experiencing anxious moments. Those propping up the table are spending sleepless nights plotting how to escape the dreaded chop.
Similarly, those at the apex have to deal with the pressure of continuing to maintain their winning streak. As the saying goes, ‘uneasy lies the head that wears the crownâ€.
Log leaders SuperSport United would want to open an oceanic gap from Orlando Pirates, who are breathing down their neck.
At this stage of the league the two teams are firm favourites. For now it seems SuperSport are home and dry.
Pirates’ chances appear slim given their lack of consistency in the past few games. Mathematically, Pirates can still sneak in, that is, if they pray hard enough.
Matsatsantsa will finish with 64 points if they win their remaining games, while Pirates would be rooted in 59. But again this is only ‘ifâ€.
At the other extreme, Bay United are already confirmed relegation candidates. A fierce battle for survival looms between Bloemfontein Celtic and Thanda Royal Zulu. My gut feeling is that Celtic will join Bay United!