Amakhosi in charge of PSL title chase AmaZulu click after players sign a manifesto
Crucial clashes for Chiefs and Downs will decide their fate
IT hasn’t been an Absa Premiership chase to remember, but with five matches remaining for log leaders Kaizer Chiefs and six for the reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who currently occupy second spot, there is still room for heart-stopping moments.
We take a close look at crucial upcoming encounters in a title race that has been blowing hot and cold all season. And that is why Amakhosi’s and the Brazilians’ run-ins could still spring a twist, even with the 10-point gap between the two sides. This is a side the Glamour Boys never displace with ease. Even though their record has slowly been improving since the days when the university side would torment them despite their lower division status, Chiefs will be wary. Often, an away trip already has the travelling team thinking they are on the back foot.
Also, Amakhosi will be without goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune following his red card in TOE-TO-TOE: AmaZulu defender Mbulelo Mabizela and Bernard Parker of Kaizer Chiefs tussle for the ball during their Absa Premiership match at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane midweek. Chiefs won 1-0 the 1-0 win over AmaZulu in Polokwane on Thursday. It is the only remaining fixture in their schedule that seems winnable without putting in too much effort.
Rise and Shine will be keen to consolidate their top-eight status if they are still holding on by then, but with safety in the Premier Soccer League all but confirmed, the stakes aren’t that
high for Kosta Papic’s men.
You could throw the match against Bidvest Wits a week later right into the mix if you like. Amakhosi need nine points from their outstanding five league games — regardless of how many points the Brazilians collect — to be crowned champions. And it could come down to their away clash against the defending champions, who will be fired up as hosts, especially if they are still in with a shot to keep their trophy safely locked away at the end of the season.
Pitso Mosimane has no other option but to guide his charges to victory at home against unpredictable Siwelele sa Masele. Defeat will surely just about end their title hopes, while a win will help them to keep believing they can topple Amakhosi. It is really a must-win than a banker, as are all their outstanding games.
The Brazilians are already relying on favours in their attempts to retain the league title.
Having recently ended a longrunning hoodoo against Dikwena, which Mosimane said was only a myth, it would not hurt to be mindful of their record against “the Tycoons”.
The league winners may already have the champagne on ice by then, but just in case the title chase is still on, this grudge match at Loftus Versveld should settle it. The Tshwane derby between Downs and SuperSport to follow might be of no significance to the championship.
In a corresponding fixture last season, the Brazilians ended their seven-year drought, beating Matsatsantsa 3-0 at Loftus. AMAZULU coach Steve Barker was not dispirited as he sipped his coffee in the Polokwane Garden Court the day after his side’s 1-0 Absa Premiership defeat to leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
The Chiefs game at Peter Mokaba Stadium was never a must-win in Barker’s methodical approach of trying to rescue a season teetering next to an abyss on nine points from 19 games two months ago.
“A huge game was the 1-0 win over Free State Stars last weekend,” Barker said. “If we’d beaten Chiefs and lost to Free State we would still be five points behind Stars.”
AmaZulu had gone five matches unbeaten before the Chiefs defeat, winning three. Barker knows on form, with five games remaining, Usuthu have a chance of surpassing the two points between them and thirdlast Free State Stars and second-last Moroka Swallows.
It would be one of the unlikeliest turnarounds in PSL history for club and coach. Barker appeared to commit career suicide when moving in November from stable Pretoria University. AmaZulu had not won in their first 11 games under Craig Rosslee and then caretakercoach Wilfred Mugeyi.
Confidence and negative tactics were pressing issues.
“Statistically, AmaZulu were the lowest in the league in finalthird entries,” Barker said.
The coach started with a victory over his old side Tuks, but Usuthu could not win again before the January break. Signings were made in the transfer window in key areas.
One, Mbulelo “OJ” Mabizela, who had left Black Aces under a cloud, raised eyebrows. When the centre-back was red-carded in a 3-0 away loss to Bloemfontein Celtic, Barker called in his troops.
“The club had hit rock bottom. Togetherness and unity were being tested. We had a meeting from 6am for a few hours. I said, ‘We won’t walk out of this room until we sort things out.’
“We all signed a manifesto — things like working together and respect. Management got behind the team and the municipality spoke to the players. We reached the stage where there was only one way — up.”
Mabizela has been a revelation since, scoring three more goals. And the rest of the signings, including defenders Robyn Johannes and Roscoe Pietersen, have clicked into place too.
“Sometimes when you’re desperate you’ve got to make decisions that from the outside look risky,” Barker said. “When I told my uncle, [then Aces coach Clive Barker] I was planning to sign OJ he said if he left Aces for a new club OJ would be the first player he signed. Even after their altercation.
“He said he was their best player the previous season — he’s got character, leadership, quality. That made my mind up. The team lacked character and playing with personality.
“The goalkeeper, Energy Murambadoro, shored up a troublesome department. Bongi Ntuli scored three in three before he got red-carded against Chippa. Marc van Heerden and John Arwuah were injured for the first half of the season — their return was like two new signings.”
The PSL took notice when AmaZulu thrashed SuperSport United 5-2 in Pretoria, followed by a 3-1 home win against Bidvest Wits.
The discipline issue remains and the Chiefs defeat means AmaZulu have played one more game than Stars and Swallows. Stars have a good squad and an experienced coach in Kinnah Phiri. Swallows should react positively to a new coach, having roped in Rosslee.
“We would accept the [second-last] play-off position,” Barker admitted. “Often when a PSL team go to the play-offs it’s on a downer, whereas we would go in on positive results.
“We’ve set us up for the final five games, with four at home. We need 10 to 12 points — it’s a tall ask but we’ve shown we’re capable of it.”