City aim for Champions League

City aim for Champions League

R2-million Soccer 10 pool is on the cards for fans as four teams all vie for that all-important second place in the DStv Premiership.

By Mark Gleeson

While the race for second place in the DStv Premiership, behind already-crowned champions Mamelodi Sundowns, might not be concluded for some weeks, Cape Town City can take a giant step forward if they win at home against AmaZulu tomorrow.

They already have a psychological edge over the other three cubs who are still in with a mathematical chance of a top two finish, which ensures a berth in next season’s Champions League.

Cape Town City went three points above Royal AM last weekend after a workmanlike win over TS Galaxy while the KwaZulu-Natal based club did not play, and still have a game in hand.

City are fancied to overcome AmaZulu and will hope there is none of the trauma of last season’s visit to the Mother City by AmaZulu, when under Benni McCarthy they forged a 5-1 hiding that led to the dismissal of Jan Olde Reikerink.

Royal AM have a tougher task away at Lamontville Golden Arrows in a Durban derby, needing to get the cobwebs out from under their feet and end a run of four games without success. Has the bubble burst for the side who were only formed days before the start of this season after the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic?

If City win, then Kaizer Chiefs will be out of the running whatever the outcome of their match away at Sekhukhune United. It is nominally an away game, but Ellis Park used to be the long-time home for Chiefs, whose older supporters will have many great memories of their time based there.

Orlando Pirates will likely not play a league game again until the end of the month because of their involvement in the African Confederation Cup.

On Sunday they host Al Ahly Tripoli in the second leg of their semi-final tie, already 2-0 up from last weekend’s first leg in Libya, and should ease through to the final, scheduled for May 23.

Pirates are left with three league games and a chance to finish with as many as 52 points. City have 48 already and can end with a maximum of 54 points while Royal AM are on 45 with three games to go, so 54 points is also the most they can achieve.

It is really in the hands of Eric Tinkler’s team who can, with two victories in their last matches, secure their highest finish yet in the revived club’s short PSL history.