It’s back to the bread and butter stuff of the Absa Premiership for the country’s elite teams this weekend following a long break induced by back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
While Kaizer Chiefs remain on a 100percent record in the league after seven matches, their defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic in the Macufe Cup last Sunday should give second-placed Ajax Cape Town some confidence as the leaders come to visit on Sunday.
Champions Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, are in fourth spot and host third-placed Bidvest Wits, who are fast beginning to play to Gavin Hunt’s tune.
Orlando Pirates host a Free State Stars side that has surprised many with their bright start under new coach Tom Saintfiet that sees them occupying a lofty sixth position.
It makes for an intriguing weekend of football that should help erase memories of Bafana Bafana’s poor showing at home to Congo-Brazzaville in Polokwane on Wednesday.
Chiefs are in the Mother City on Sunday with coach Stuart Baxter keen to have his team remaining focused on the job at hand instead of getting carried away by all the vibe surrounding their flying start to the season.
“We are concentrating on our performance at the moment,” Baxter told the PSL website. “That’s what we can control, when a defeat comes it will be a matter of how we respond to that as a setback.”
Baxter takes on an Ajax side who have enjoyed an uncharacteristically superb early season. But beginning the season like a house on fire is coach Roger de Sa’s forte, the one time star goalkeeper having generally done so during his time as coach of Wits as well.
He is keen to ensure that Chiefs don’t stretch their seven points lead any further and feels his Urban Warriors will be playing not only for themselves on Sunday. “It is important we stay in touch with them on the standings because they are running away with it at the moment. They will have a good lead if results go their way,” De Sa explained. “So we will be representing everyone in the league and hopefully we will prove that Chiefs are not this runaway train everyone is talking about. Maybe the train will stop in Cape Town this weekend.”
If De Sa is keen to stop the Chiefs locomotive, Vladimir Vermezovic is no doubt eager to have the Pirates ship gaining momentum.
The Buccaneers are at home to Stars tomorrow night no doubt still smarting from that shock defeat to rookies Chippa United. But they should not be lacking for inspiration given goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa’s sterling performances in the national team jersey against the Red Devils of Congo.
WEEKEND’S ABSA PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES
Tomorrow:
Moroka Swallows v Black Aces (Dobsonville Stadium, 3pm), University of Pretoria v SuperSport United (Tuks Stadium, 3.30pm), Mamelodi Sundowns v Wits (Loftus Versfeld , 6pm), AmaZulu v Chippa United (Princess Magogo Stadium, 6pm), Orlando Pirates v Free State Stars (Orlando Stadium, 8.15pm), Maritzburg United v Platinum Stars (Harry Gwala Stadium, 8.15pm).
Sunday: both 3.30pm
Ajax Cape Town v Kaizer Chiefs (Cape Town Stadium), Bloemfontein Celtic v Polokwane City (Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium) - The Star