Title race may produce a bit of mud-slinging

At the time of writing this, no team had kicked a ball in an official game this year but I already have goosebumps in anticipation of what could transpire as the 2019/20 season draws towards the end.

I know you might think that having been in the game for as long as I have, I would be a lot calmer now and not be easily excitable.

I also don’t understand why I still get pumped up at the prospect of a highly charged chase for the league title. I must surely have seen a similar prospect before.

As things stand, Kaizer Chiefs are the favourites for the Absa Premiership title especially with Mamelodi Sundowns fighting on two fronts and likely to have to pick one battle as time goes on. Masandawana have a vested interest in the Caf Champions League where they have done pretty well to lead their group by such a fancy margin.

Pitso Mosimane was the first coach at Masandawana to bring success in the Patrice Motsepe era. A lot of coaches had been afforded all the material that money can buy but they still couldn’t bring the bacon home. Pitso came and did the things that made the trophies land at Chloorkop just when the team had become a laughing stock.

He was the first to win the Caf Champions League and ensure that Mamelodi Sundowns finally get the shiny gold star crusted just above their logo, becoming the second team in the southern hemisphere after Orlando Pirates to achieve such.

There are rumours which refuse to die down which suggests that Mosimane may leave Chloorkop sooner than anyone anticipated. And he has also indicated that he would love a sabbatical from football. So, you never know what may happen.

And knowing how competent he is, he would want to leave shoes so big that even King Kong won’t be able to wear them. And that can happen if he were to win the league and Champions League titles.

He has a good chance on both the local and continental front. But there may come a time where games will clash and he could be forced to abandon one battle and go all out in the other. Sundowns clearly have the arsenal to fight on both ends however.

And we all know that Pitso Mosimane wants to make history on the local front as well by guiding Masandawana to their 10th title.

Also, his dislike for Kaizer Chiefs is well documented and we all know how annoyed he is likely to be should Ernst Middendorp and his boys go on and win the league.

This is why I am already shivering at the thought of verbal fights and mud slinging between not only the supporters of both sides but also the coaches. Pitso has already said this that has peeved Amakhosi supporters off.

More is yet to come as it gets hotter in the kitchen towards the end of the season.

Let us hope it will be as exciting as we expect it to be, we deserve that as followers of the beautiful game.

Last but not least, let me take this opportunity to wish you well in the new year, I hope it delivers all that you wish for yourselves and those around you.

Happy New Year!