Clever Boys outsmart Polokwane to grab title
WITS are the 2016-17 PSL champions – fittingly, it was Daine Klate who netted a wonderful second goal to hand the Clever Boys a 2-0 win over Polokwane City and the prestigious league title.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United played to a 2-2 draw, and the log standings see Wits in an unassailable position, with one game to go, on 60 points, followed by Sundowns with 56 and Cape Town City on 55.
In other results last night, City beat Golden Arrows 1-0, Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates played to a 0-0 draw, Platinum Stars defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-0, Baroka FC and Highlands Park drew 0-0, Bloemfontein Celtic held Free State Stars to a 0-0 draw, while Chippa United hammered SuperSport United 3-0.
For Wits, though, it’s a firstever PSL trophy. A few years ago, they made a complete turnaround, eschewing their usual status as a development club to plot a future as a big club with ambitions. To negotiate the way forward, and to win the title, they appointed seasoned, successful Cape Town-born coach Gavin Hunt, who had won the championship in three successive seasons with SuperSport. Hunt has now fulfilled his mandate, adding yet another league triumph to his CV.
For Klate, though, what a career it has been. The 32-yearold Port Elizabeth-born winger has won the PSL title on five previous occasions – three with SuperSport and two with Pirates. Now he another – number 6 – with Wits … If ever, there was a lucky charm footballer.
In Johannesburg last night, Wits demonstrated their determination in pursuit of the title when they got off to a cracking start against high-riding Polokwane. Englishman James Keene got at the end of a cross as early as the third minute and glanced a powerful header into the corner of the net.
Keene only started because Wits lost two attackers earlier in the week – Cuthbert Malajila with a broken foot and Phakamani Mahlambi with a hamstring problem. Mahlambi’s injury, in fact, was severe enough that he was also withdrawn from the South Africa Under-20 squad due to participate in the junior World Cup in South Korea, starting at the weekend.
Keene made the most of his opportunity in the starting team by scoring to give the Clever Boys the start they needed. And then it was that man Klate who thundered in an angled shot in the second half to make the score 2-0 and the Clever Boys were able to cruise to victory.
In Atteridgeville, while Sundowns may have dominated possession and territory, they found themselves up against a really compact and committed Maritzburg side. The Pretoria club, the current African champions, found it tough to break the KZN team down. And, in their struggle, they were always open to conceding at the other end. Maritzburg, also, proved to be clinical when opportunities accrued – first, Kenyan defender Brian Onyango headed in to give Maritzburg the lead on the half-hour mark; then, to add to Sundowns’ woes, Evans Rusike made it 2-0 to Maritzburg 20 minutes into the second half.
Yannick Zakri scored twice just before the end to make it 2-2, but it was all too little, too late for the Pretoria side.
At Athlone Stadium, City were able to welcome back winger Aubrey Ngoma and central defender Robyn Johannes from suspension, but they struggled to get going. Arrows made life difficult for the Capetonians, with Kudakwashe Mahachi, Siphelele Magubane and Knox Mutizwa all squandering opportunities.
It took a while for City to find their feet and, when they eventually did, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Lebogang Manyama failed to make the most of their chances.
The Citizens were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute after Manyama was fouled. The City captain took the responsibility for the spotkick, but his effort hit the woodwork. Just before the end, though, City stole all three points when Ngoma’s cross was deflected into his own net by Musa Bilankulu. The win secures the Cape side’s thirdplaced finish –but, who knows, if Sundowns slip up in the last game, City could even end second. There’s still something to play for in that last match.
At Orlando Stadium, Ajax continued their current form by giving a good account of themselves against Pirates. With Mark Mayambela suspended, The Urban Warriors coach, Stanley Menzo, brought in Zambian Rodrick Kabwe, who gave the Soweto side some anxious moments with his enterprise down the flanks.
Pirates, in turn, picked both former Ajax players for the game – Abbubaker Mobara and Riyaad Norodien – hoping the duo would be able to do the business against their former team. Neither team could find a way to score, though, and the goalless scoreline was a fair result.
At the basement, with one game remaining, it’s still as tight as ever. Baroka are last with 25 points, but just above are Highlands, also 26, Free State Stars 27, Chippa 27 and Celtic on 28 points.