An intriguing weekend ahead
AN EARLY title showdown between Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates, and the potential for Golden Arrows to top the standings, make for an intriguing Absa Premiership weekend.
And to kick off the action there’s a Mother City derby between Cape Town City and Ajax Cape Town tonight, followed by another grilling for Kaizer Chiefs and their coach Steve Komphela by his old side Maritzburg United tomorrow night.
Unbeaten Pirates and Wits lead the table with two wins and a draw apiece, separated on goal difference only by Pirates’ greater number of goals scored.
This Joburg derby at the home of the Students could set the tone for how the championship unfolds.
Pirates are desperate to reclaim the title that has alternated between their rivals Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns over the past four seasons, and Wits coach Gavin Hunt is equally keen to deliver a championship trophy to his employers in the final season of his three-year contract.
With Sundowns targeting bigger honours in the African Champions League – they trail Zesco United of Zambia 2-1 ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final second-leg tie in Atteridgeville – the winner between Wits and Pirates will be able to build up a head of steam.
However, a draw would allow Arrows to steal into the lead, provided they overcome winless Bloemfontein Celtic in Sunday’s only match.
The mid-week matches offered the coaches much to chew on. Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral in particular bemoaned his team’s inability to carry out instructions in their 0-0 escape against Cape Town City.
That could see a drastic reshuffling with midfielder Issa Sarr and striker Thamsanqa Gabuza making way for other players.
While Chiefs will be buoyed after their first win, a 1-0 triumph at Highlands Park, the true test of their turn-around will be provided by Maritzburg. The Team of Choice considered themselves unfortunate to lose 1-0 against SuperSport United.
Arrows’ last-gasp winner midweek at Free State Stars earned them consecutive victories, with clean sheets to boot.
That lifted them to third spot. Morale will soar as well, before coach Clinton Larsen’s trip to his old stomping ground.
Boasting a number of ex-Celtic players in his side will make it seem less like an away game as they attempt to register a hat-trick of wins.
In Maritzburg and Arrows’ absence there will still be topflight action in KZN. Supersport host Free State Stars in uMlazi in a late night game tomorrow, after they made way for Sundowns to play Zesco at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Local supporters can instead throw their weight behind AmaZulu, who face University of Pretoria in a battle for the First Division lead in KwaMashu tomorrow afternoon.