The Absa Premiership race is fast approaching the home straight. Orlando Pirates are favourites to lift the league trophy but it’s almost certain that this race will be decided in the last three matches of the season. Today I am looking at the top contenders’ chances of winning the league title.
Orlando Pirates
The Buccaneers have made their intentions clear, they want the league title and their performance on the field is testimony to that. The atmosphere from within the club is that of a team that has smelled blood and is going for the kill. Everyone — from the supporters, the technical and the players — has seen the promised land and is marching towards it. Their good form has seen them go 15 games without defeat. If they can keep that up, then it’s safe to say that this one is in the bag.
Depth as well as Ruud Krol’s excellent tactical decisions in crucial moments has seen the Happy People become the favourites and only a drastic loss of form will see them lose grip towards the end. But that is highly unlikely.
Ajax Cape Town
This should go down as one of the Urban Warriors’ best seasons ever, if not the finest. The young Cape side has gone about its business of challenging for the title without most people taking notice. If they go on to win, it will be one of the finest moments in South African football and victory for their excellent commitment to youth development.
Coach Foppe de Haan has done a great job. Ajax play good football and are effective in getting the necessary results. The only thing that can let Ajax down is if they fail to keep their nerve under pressure as the boys are separated from the men towards the end. They are the dark horse and in football anything is possible. Watch this space.
Kaizer Chiefs
For Amakhosi the story is quite sad, this is a team which has showed great promise but somehow, when it matters most, fails to deliver. They’ve had a few good chances but inconsistency and bad luck keeps creeping in. Many factors have played a role in their inability to keep the momentum going. Knowledge Musona’s loss of form hit them where it hurts most, as well as their failure to knock out the opposition when the game was there for the taking.
They’ve been dropping points in crucial matches and that is hurting their chances of winning the league. But football is a funny game, often cruel as well, Chiefs might just peak at the right time and go on to win the title when most people were beginning to right them off. They are still very much in the race and can still win if Pirates fail to keep their current form.
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns only have themselves to blame for their position. Apart from the inevitable loss of form they suffered after a perfect start, internal squabbles have dented their chances of seriously challenging for the league title.
At the moment they’re picking up the pieces and are trying to put their title challenge back on track. But is it a little too late? Only time will tell. They will be hoping the teams above them drop points and keep on winning. They still have a real chance to win the league though and anyone who writes them off can do so at their own risk. Football is unpredictable.
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