The 12th player – drama, upsets, goals. Putco goes inside the PSL:
WE are only concluding the first week of the Premier Soccer League but never before has there been such drama, great goals, upsets, yellow cards and tense moments.
There have been 32 goals scored in the first week of the ABSA Premiership and 17 of those scored on Wednesday evening only; that’s not bad at all considering that many football lovers already perceive this start as a great return of domestic football after such blazing FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil last month.
The only teams to win both opening ABSA Premiership games, Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs, have their striking force doing the right things, scoring those critical goals, more so Lerato Chabangu of the Dube Birds who, many had written off towards the end of last season as Swallows were battling to keep away from the relegation zone.
The same cannot be said, unfortunately, about League Champions Mamelodi Sundowns who have not won a single game since the opener of the season with the MTN 8 which, they lost to Platinum Stars.
After a 1-1 draw with Maritzburg United at home in their ABSA Premiership opener, many Sundowns fans wanted Coach Pitso Mosimane out. He further travelled to Cape Town on Wednesday to face Roger De Sa’s Ajax Cape Town under such trying times and not surprisingly lost by a single goal to the Urban Warriors. Things are certainly not looking good inside the Chloorkop camp and it will take goals from Mosimane’s strikers to turn things around. Sundowns are lying 14th on the league table and it cannot make club president and billionaire Patrice Motsepe happy at all.
Whilst many a critic will say this is not how defending champions begin their campaign, one should not forget this is football and all clubs want early wins so the stakes are high. Bafana Bafana’s Oupa Manyisa has a new role of attacking mid- fielder-cum-striker at Orlando Pirates who have not won a league game yet and it seems to be working well for Manyisa as he has got his name on the scoring cards easily, but this is not the only thing Bucs coach Vladimir Vermezovic wants, particularly occupying arguably the hottest coaching seat in the land.
The Buccaneers are lying 11th on the league table and although it is still early days, no club wants to start like this particularly those considered traditional championship contenders. Coach “VV”’ will want to forget about the poor premiership start and focus on getting an away MTN 8 semi-final first leg win tomorrow when his charges face Bidvest Wits. The students are no push-overs and Pirates know it but only mental strength and the large crowds will ignite the fire desired in Orlando.
Still on the MTN 8, Kaizer Chiefs who are hitting fine form in all three official matches so far, play tricky Platinum Stars in Royal Bafokeng stadium this afternoon in their first leg encounter, and methinks a one all draw could be the least that will make coach Stuart Baxter smile, as Chiefs have, to a great extent, struggled to win at this World Cup stadium against Platinum Stars.
An away goal will be crucial for both Soweto giants should they wish to make a Soweto derby date in the finals of this lucrative MTN sponsored competition.
Back at home Chippa United exhibited superior football in their opening game against Platinum Stars, but pressure will soon increase in their camp should they fail to clinch a home win against the University of Pretoria at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on Wednesday August 20 at 7.30pm.
Celebrations of Chippa United occupying the top spot on the league table lasted for two days and now the Chilli Boys are in sixth position after losing to Supersport United by one goal to nil at the Lu- cas Moripe stadium on Tuesday.
Home wins will be crucial for the Nelson Mandela Bay side as they attempt to woo fans and write their name across the hearts of Eastern Cape football lovers. The Chilli Boys will need patience as they keep trying new signees who have been signed to bolster their squad.
The 12th player would love to take a bow to the PSL for finally introducing the reserve side league, as this is just another positive way to cater for development players and those expensive fringe players signed through millions of signing-on fees and fat cat salaries.
Well done to PSL chairman Irvin Khoza and company.
Blow your vuvuzela!