Unofficially in the clear
Await certain Premiership title
KAIZER Chiefs have won the Absa Premiership title. They can start celebrating. Only a miracle by Platinum Stars can see them fail to clinch it.
Stars, chief detractors, continued to flounder and this has seen their chances of overtaking Chiefs to the title diminish substantially.
Chiefs are on the summit of the PSL standings with 56 points with Stars in second with 53.
Stars had the chance to go level on points on Saturday when they faced Golden Arrows.
But Arrows shattered their dream with a 2-1 victory.
This means that Stars can still equalise with Chiefs in terms of points but the Phefeni Glamour Boy’s superior goal difference gives them an almost unsurmountable advantage.
Catching Chiefs on goal difference will be a monumental task for Cavin Johnson’s side.
They will need to score more than 10 goals while also hoping that Chiefs will falter in their last two games against SuperSport United and University of Pretoria.
Stars’ highest score this season was the 6-4 win over Golden Arrows.
Defending champions Orlando Pirates also had a chance to overtake Chiefs but their 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday ruled them out of the race.
Chiefs face SuperSport United on Wednesday in a league game with only a point to play for.
Saturday’s final matches will be a formality to what was a consistent season for Stuart Baxter’s side as they only moved away from the top spot once.
The Brit took over from Serbian-born Vladimir Vermezovic at the start of the campaign.
And his influence on the side has been enormous as Chiefs are on course to win the League and Cup double – something which was never expected when Baxter took over.
are in the Nedbank Cup final on May 25 in Durban where they face SuperSport United.
Sadly, for the last two league games, Baxter will be on the bench as he rides out a two-match suspension.
Doctor Khumalo, his assistant, will be holding the fort until the Ke Yona final when Baxter returns.