Cape Town - If Kaizer Chiefs are going to be reeled in at the top of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings, then the challengers will have to use the month of December to make their move.
Clubs are in for a hectic period - with six games in the space of three weeks - before the PSL heads into a lengthy recess to accommodate the festive season and after that the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for January 17-February 8 in Equatorial Guinea.
Chiefs remain the only unbeaten side in league competition and are setting a furious pace out front with 30 points after 12 games. They are followed by Ajax Cape Town (21 points), Wits (20) Chippa United (20), Orlando Pirates (18), Maritzburg United (17) and Mamelodi Sundowns (17).
Needless to say, and as admitted to by Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter, the rest of the PSL cannot wait for the popular Soweto club to lose.
“They probably can’t wait,” said Baxter. “The most popular result in the PSL will be the first time we lose. But my players are continuing to work hard and giving of their best.”
With Amakhosi only managing a 0-0 draw with Polokwane City in the week, Ajax, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic, were able to close the gap to just nine points.
But the Cape side’s coach, Roger de Sa, is aware more such results are needed. His team has to keep winning, it’s the only way to keep the pressure on Chiefs.
“We have to keep going and keep trying to work on our shortcomings,” said De Sa.
“It was a tough outing against Celtic, but the team put in a spirited performance. Everyone contributed to the result and now, in this busy period coming up, we will have to show the same courage and character.”
At the bottom of the table, AmaZulu are in a spot of bother. They are rock-bottom, having accumulated just four points, while just above them Free State Stars and Platinum Stars are both on 11 points. The Durban side recently appointed former University of Pretoria coach Steve Barker, and they are confident he will steer them to safety.
The PSL’s leading goal-scorer currently may seem to be a bit of a surprise, but Polokwane City striker Puleng Tlolane has already caught the eye of quite a few coaches. Even De Sa recently mentioned the attacker who is leading the scoring charts with seven goals.
Tlolane is followed by Free Stars’ Moeketsi Sekola, recently rewarded with a Bafana cap, on six goals, and then Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Ndumiso Mabena (Platinum Stars), George Lebese (Chiefs), Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows) and David Zulu (Chippa United) all on five goals.
Cape Argus