Downs make their move
ANOTHER INTRUIGING CHAPTER ON CARDS IN CLOSE RACE
Clever Boys have lost ground in push for league honours after their home loss to SuperSport.
The “false” Absa Premiership table will take another step closer to its true identity this evening as Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits both continue the game of catch-up in this intriguing title race.
Wits coach Gavin Hunt has repeatedly noted how difficult it is to say where the challengers stand in the race for the championship, when they have played a different amount of games.
This has been the case for the entire season, with Sundowns and Wits caught up in continental commitments.
After the Clever Boys play at Highlands Park this evening, however, and Sundowns travel to Golden Arrows, they will both have just a game in hand on Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs, the other sides currently sitting in the top four. The picture is becoming clearer.
The Brazilians will go top for the first time this season if they can win at Arrows, a move that would be a real statement of intent from the defending champions. Pitso Mosimane’s side did already blow a chance to take the lead in the title race, with a run of five league games without a win from the start of March stalling their progress.
Four league wins in a row have begun to redress the balance, however, and Sundowns have a chance this evening to also avenge their Nedbank Cup last-16 loss to Arrows on April 8.
Arrows are having a fine season under Clinton Larsen, fighting hard for a place in the top eight and with a Nedbank Cup semifinal to come against Orlando Pirates next month.
Wits saw a run of six home league wins on the trot brought to an abrupt end on Tuesday by Su- perSport United, who just about kept their title ambitions alive with a 1-0 victory in Milpark.
The Clever Boys badly need the three points against Gordon Igesund’s Lions of the North this evening, to set them up nicely for a massive title showdown against Sundowns on Monday.
The game is also vital for Highlands Park, however, who are battling desperately to avoid relegation at the end of the season. Igesund’s side are currently 15th in the table, and only ahead of Baroka FC on goal difference.
Highlands Park did manage an impressive 2-2 draw at Wits in November, with Mothobi Mvala netting deep into stoppage time at the Bidvest Stadium. Mvala was at it again this week, his lastgasp goal grabbing a point against Bloemfontein Celtic, though draws are not really good enough for Igesund’s side at this stage of the season.