by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – WITH only a tenth of the season gone by, it is early days to be having these conversations.
However, if current form is anything to go by, it will be an arduous task for the rest of the league to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns’ quest for a seventh consecutive DStv Premiership title.
As for the most popular side in South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs, this season will be another hard slog, their latest setback culminating in hooliganism rearing its ugly head again.
Downs, the side from the capital city, Tshwane (Pretoria), have been quick off the blocks while teams typically expected to end their stranglehold on the title have again flattered to deceive.
Already, the rest of the contenders in the continent’s richest league are playing catch-up , with the Pretoria-based defending champions having opened a five point lead at the top, having won all four fixtures.
Sundowns have managed that perfect start despite barely shifting from first gear.
That haul of 12 points has been earned from victories over Sekhukhune United (2-1), Chiefs (2-1), Golden Arrows (4-0) and most recently this past weekend away to Chippa United (2-0).
In between was a 1-0 victory against Moroka Swallows in the MTN8, setting up another meeting with Chiefs in the two-legged semifinals of the cup.
Sundowns are back in action on Wednesday, away to lowly Richards Bay at the King Zwelithini. The odds favour coach Rhulani Mokwena’s juggernaut, collecting another full set of points.
This past Sunday, anger boiled over at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga province where Chiefs travelled to bogey side, TS Galaxy, and eventually lost their second game of the season. The only point the beleaguered Glamour Boys have secured was an opening draw at Chippa.
Enraged by the poor form, a section of fans threw objects at the technical department after the match against Galaxy.
Molefi Ntseki, appointed at the beginning of the season, is the latest Chiefs coach to exit the pitch under such circumstances, the newest twist in a trophy doubt running close to a decade.
Chiefs are 13th on the table and hopes are that in the next fixture, at home to 11th AmaZulu at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, secures a first win, lest the civil war between fans and club escalates.
Another coach in a precarious position is Shaun Bartlett. His Cape Town Spurs finds life back in the Premiership daunting.
The Urban Warriors are rock bottom having lost all three matches, the latest a 3-1 weekend setback against fellow returnees, Polokwane City.
City on the other hand are fourth with six points.
Spurs will host another winless side, 12th placed Chippa, at Athlone on Friday.
Two days prior, in the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal the lowly Richards Bay host Sundowns at King Zwelithini.
On paper, it is a mismatch.
Coach Kaitano Tembo’s Natal Rich Boys have been poor, languishing in 14th with a single point.
Also on Wednesday, sixth placed Cape Town City (six points) welcome Sekhukhune United, tenth on 3 points, to Athlone.
On Saturday, Stellenbosch, lying fifth, welcome second-placed Supersport United at Dannie Craven in the Cape Winelands.
– CAJ News