IS THE DSTV PREM CHASING PACK NON-EXISTENT?

If there’s anything we’ve come to learn about Mamelodi Sundowns and how they’ve been able to dominate in the DSTV Premiership, it’s ‘Consistency’. A term that many other PSL teams are not synonymous with, both in the DSTV Premiership and the Motsepe Foundation. With 19 matchday’s in on the DSTV Prem, Sundowns have played only 16 of those games and sit 11 points clear to the team sitting 2^nd, being Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch side.

Overall, Stellenbosch have been unbeaten in 15 consecutive games across all competitions, however, they don’t win consistently enough to contest with Mamelodi Sundowns for league honours, but they did go on to lift the inaugural Carling Knockout cup.

With the abovementioned, you can’t help but think ‘even if Sundowns lose their next 2 games, nobody will catch up to them’. They practically look unbeatable! Out of the 16 games Sundowns have played, they’ve won 13 and drew the other 3 games.

THE CHASING PACK BEHIND DOWNS

The “PSL Top 3” is slowly becoming a non-existent phrase to describe the teams that have led the success stories of the PSL over the years. Orlando Pirates have been reduced to finding success in domestic cup competitions with bouts in CAF interclub tournaments getting evermore difficult to compete in with the rise of footballing nations across the African continent. Their fiercest rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, have evidently struggled to win any silverware in the past 9 years leading to 10.

Though both ‘Soweto Giants’  have played 19 games in the league, none of them have won more than 10 games. An incredibly depressing stat considering that these teams are so-called ‘Giants’ of South African football.

With the Soweto derby on the horizon, chances are very high that the Western Cape Derby between Stellies and Cape Town Spurs might be a more entertaining watch on Saturday. Stellenbosch come into the game against Spurs having just won another Cape Derby against Cape Town City, which could be a major confidence booster for Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch side as they aim to retain 2^nd place on the DSTV Premiership table.

On the other end of the Western Cape Derby, Cape Town Spurs are turning the corner regarding their form. Prior to the recent 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates, they’ve participated in 2 other league games this year that ended in back-to-back wins for the Urban Warriors. With Ernst Middendorp being at the helm since November, it’s highly likely that the Cape Town Spurs can complete their turnaround by catching up with relegation threatened Richards Bay FC, who currently sit in 15^th place with only 2 points ahead of Spurs.

Supersport United are also a team that we can’t overlook in the chasing pack. Matsatsantsa are equal on points with Cape Town City and Stellenbosch, but their form has taken a huge dip as they’ve not won a game in 3 games.

With just over 9 games remaining for most teams in the league, it’s almost inevitable that Sundowns will be stopped on their way to lift the title this season. But whether they toil through to get their “invincible” status or stumble their way to the podium, the league title might already be in the loaded trophy cabinet in Chloorkop.