The title chasers

Cape Town City Played 23, Points 45

This season’s surprise package have simply refused to fade away in the Absa Premiership race, and are now on the brink of something truly extraordinary. Eric Tinkler’s side set out their stall in the first part of the season, and they have sky-rocketed in 2017, winning six and drawing two of their eight league games so far this year. Lebogang Manyama and Aubrey Ngoma provide an irresistible combination in attack, while Shuaib Walters has been rock-solid in goal and Tshepo Gumede equally so at the heart of the City defence. City have home games against title rivals Wits and Chiefs remaining this month. Win those and it is hard to bet against them for the title. Remaining fixtures:

April 19 – Bidvest Wits (h) April 25 – Kaizer Chiefs (h) May 1 – Maritzburg United (a) May 5 – Free State Stars (h) May 9 – SuperSport United (a) May 17 – Golden Arrows (h) May 27 – Polokwane City (a)

Prediction: Third

Kaizer Chiefs P 24, Pts 45

Amakhosi are unbeaten in the league since a November 19 defeat at Sundowns, picking up nine wins and six draws from their last 15 games, with Steve Komphela starting to find his feet at Naturena. resurgent Chiefs are now right in the title race, but the question is whether they have enough games to post a points total that none of the other top five will be able to match. Chiefs have six games still to play, less than anyone else in the championship race, and their next two games, away to City and at SuperSport, are likely to be key to the final outcome. With their attack finally firing, however, they have every chance of what would be a surprising title win, given their poor start to the season. April 25 – Cape Town City (a) April 29 – SuperSport (a) May 6 – Golden Arrows (h) May 13 – Polokwane City (a) May 17 – Platinum Stars (a) May 27 – Wits (h)

Prediction: Fourth

Bidvest Wits P 21, Pts 44

Wits are probably in pole position right now, with games in hand on Chiefs and City above them, and a clear run at the Premiership title following their early exit in the Nedbank Cup. Gavin Hunt’s side have been there or thereabouts for a couple of seasons and this could just be the time for them to finally realise their potential. Wits have to play all of their title rivals in the run in, with home games against SuperSport and Sundowns, and away games at City and Chiefs among their last nine games. The Clever Boys lost to Sundowns, City and SuperSport in the first round, only beating Chiefs, and will certainly need to improve on this. April 19 – CT City (a) April 25 – SuperSport United (h) April 28 – Highlands Park (a) May 1 – Mamelodi Sundowns (h) May 4 – Orlando Pirates (h) May 7 – Maritzburg Utd (h) May 10 – FS Stars (a) May 17 – Polokwane City (h) May 27 – Kaizer Cheifs (a)

Prediction: Second

Mamelodi Sundowns P 21, Pts 41

For a long time, Mamelodi Sundowns had to be title favourites, sitting not too far behind their rivals, with games in hand on all of them. Pitso Mosimane’s side, however, suffered a wobble in 2017 that saw them go five league games without a win, putting the cat firmly back among the pigeons. Sundowns bounced back last week, thumping SuperSport 5-0 and then picking up a hard-fought away win at Free State Stars at the weekend. Another win at SuperSport this week and the Brazilians will surely feel confident – they have an easier-looking run-in than their rivals, with only two members of the top five left to play. April 19 – SuperSport (a) April 25 – Ajax Cape Town (h) April 28 – Golden Arrows (a) May 1 – Bidvest Wits (a) May 4 – Platinum Stars (h) May 7 – Orlando Pirates (a) May 10 – Baroka FC (h) May 17 – Maritzburg United (h) May 27 – Highlands Park (a)

Prediction: Champions

SuperSport United P 22, Pts 37

SuperSport are now an outside bet for the title, with consecutive defeats to Baroka and Sundowns leaving them rather trailing in the wake of those above them. Stuart Baxter’s protracted conversation with the South African Football Association about the Bafana Bafana job has undoubtedly had an effect, with SuperSport losing to the league’s bottom side, and uncharacteristically poor at the back against their Tshwane rivals. Matsatsantsa play Sundowns, Wits and Chiefs in their next three games, with City also visiting Tshwane on May 9. If they win all four of those, SuperSport should be right back in it, but at the moment they are more likely to fall away. April 19 – Sundowns (h) April 25 – Bidvest Wits (a) April 29 – Kaizer Chiefs (h) May 3 – Bloem Celtic (h) May 6 – Polokwane City (a) May 9 – CT City (h) May 17 – Chippa Utd (a) May 27 – Platinum Stars (h)

Prediction: Fifth