Ajax Cape Town
The Urban Warriors had a mixed first round, picking up points when least expected, but then losing games which they previously used to win at home. As a result, they were nowhere near the championship contenders, and that’s unlikely to change in the second round, not least when they have one of the more brittle defences around.
Predicted finish: 10th
AmaZulu
At first they looked dead certs for relegation, but a coaching change that got rid of Manqoba Mngqithi and brought in Roger Palmgren worked like a charm for Usuthu. Now they begin the second round just three points off the top eight spot and will have genuine ambitions of finishing in the top half of the standings. Remarkably, they have the joint-best defence in the league.
Predicted finish: ninth
BIDVest Wits
A cup run which ended in defeat to Orlando Pirates in December will have been deflating, and restarting the season without captain Sifiso Myeni – transferred to Bucs last month – will not necessarily lift spirits in Roger de Sa’s dressing room. But De Sa can count on his young, exciting side to pick up points and challenge for a top-six place.
Predicted finish: sixth
Black Leopards
Lidoda Duvha picked up just two wins in the first round, and could not have wished for a worst possible start to the second phase – a trip to champions Pirates on Wednesday. Their bid for survival won’t be helped by the distraction that is the African Confederation Cup, which can exhaust even the most competent of teams. Leopards also have the worst defence in the league.
Predicted finish: 16th
Bloem Celtic
Celtic had a disastrous start to the season, prompting speculation that Clinton Larsen might be removed as head coach, but they found form in the latter part of the first round, picking up crucial points to be in mid-table. But whether they’ll scale the heights of last season – when they finished a record fifth – is another story. They will need to learn to win away games this year.
Predicted finish: seventh
Free State Stars
Steve Komphela’s team lie seven points behind leaders Sundowns, but contend they would have been higher were it not for dubious refereeing decisions that went against them in the first 15 matches. Ea Lla Koto should still be competitive, boosted by the performance at international duty of men such as Ayanda Gcaba and Gilbert Rudiger (Bafana) and Kennedy Mweene (Zambia).
Predicted finish: eighth
Maritzburg United
In a bizarre move, United have re-hired German Ernst Middendorp after firing Ian Palmer for absolutely flimsy reasons. But whether Middendorp can take them above their lower to mid-table mediocrity remains to be seen.
Predicted finish: 13th
Moroka Swallows
One thing is certain: Swallows will not be fighting relegation come May. Last season they survived only on the last day, but can Gordon Igesund turn them into genuine championship contenders? Fourth-placed, the Birds aim to fly higher, but limited resources could see their wings clipped. Igesund will have to lessen the dependency on the ageless Siyabonga Nomvete for Swallows to be taken seriously.
Predicted finish: Fifth
Orlando Pirates
The champions had a nightmarish first round, losing five games, but Julio Leal has backed new arrivals such as Luis Boa Morte and Thandani Ntshumayelo to help Bucs reignite their title challenge. A big squad will surely aid Bucs’ cause to fight the battle on three fronts: the Premiership, Champions League and Nedbank Cup, but so many points dropped in the first phase could well hurt come May.
Predicted finish: Fourth
Platinum Stars
Stars finished a lowly 10th last season, winning just six of their 30 games, and it looks like they will have a mountain to climb if they are to be in the top half at the end of this term. But before entertaining any thoughts of a top-eight finish, Owen Da Gama’s team must first clamber out of the relegation zone. For a club with resources deemed a luxury even by national teams, the North West side are hugely underachieving.
Predicted finish: 12th
Santos
Arguably the Premiership’s most boring side with their negative, sleep-inducing kind of football, Santos have plummeted new depths, losing nine games in the first round. The People’s Team have boosted their pathetic squad with the addition of Gert Schalkwyk and Nasief Morris, but unless they improve dramatically, they could well be candidates for automatic relegation.
Predicted finish: 14th
SuperSport United
Three-time champions SuperSport looked comfortable at the top before the wheels came off in December when they lost three of their four games. Gavin Hunt must hope the addition of Mabhuti Khenyeza, Franklyn Cale and Sameegh Doutie to his squad helps sustain their bid for a fourth championship. Hunt still has one of the more settled squads in the land, in spite of having lost Anthony Laffor to Sundowns.
Predicted finish: Second
Golden Arrows
Plunged into relegation trouble by Ernst Middendorp, Arrows still find themselves just four points above the play-off spot and will need to restart with much energy and gusto to move clear of danger. Coach Muhsin Ertugral has been boosted by the addition of his former protégé Clifford Ngobeni during last month’s transfer-window, but must get Abafana Bes’thende to play more as a unit to entertain any top-eight ambitions.
Predicted finish: 11th
Jomo Cosmos
Ezenkosi face a humiliating third drop in five years if they do not improve. In the first round, they didn’t know how to win, beating only Platinum Stars in 15 games. But Jomo Sono’s team’s biggest problem is that they do not know how to defend. On many occasions they lost points because they surrendered a lead. The addition of striker Russel Mwafulirwa should be a tremendous boost at the other end, where they have scored the least goals (12).
Predicted finish: 15th
Kaizer Chiefs
Chiefs had a relatively quiet January transfer window, and coach Vladimir Vermezovic will need his charges to fire immediately to justify this lack of activity in the market. Third-placed Amakhosi are not too far off the pace as they trail Sundowns by a mere three points, but the inability to convert chances will not win them the title. Chiefs may also have to deal with the suspension of Thomas Sweswe and Jimmy Jambo by the Zimbabwean |authorities over corruption allegations.
Predicted finish: Third
Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns had an almost perfect first round, scoring at a rate of two goals per game to soar to the top of the Premiership table . But coach Johan Neeskens has said he doesn’t know how his men would react after this long break. With Anthony Laffor added to their stable, the Brazilians should still be favourites for the title, although that will largely depend on whether Neeskens properly manages the egos in his dressing-room.
Predicted finish: Champions
Predicted The coach of the champions
Johan Neeskens
Predicted AS Player of the Season
Elias Pelembe
Predicted AS Top Goal Scorer of the Season
Katlego ‘Killer’ Mphela
AT A GLANCE
Wednesday’s fixtures
(All 7.30pm)
Pirates v Leopards, Orlando
Swallows v Santos, Dobsonville
Ajax v Platinum Stars, Cape Town Stadium
SuperSport v FS Stars, Lucas Moripe Stadium
Cosmos v Chiefs, Nelson Mandela Bay
AmaZulu v Sundowns, Moses Mabhida Stadium
Celtic v Arrows, Botshabelo
BIDVest Wits v Maritzburg, Milpark
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
Sundowns 15 9 4 2 30 12 31
SuperSport 15 8 4 3 25 13 28
Chiefs 15 8 4 3 16 10 28
Swallows 15 7 5 3 22 18 26
Pirates 15 7 3 5 16 11 24
Free State 15 7 3 5 17 13 24
Ajax 15 7 3 5 20 21 24
Wits 15 6 5 4 21 17 23
Celtic 15 6 4 5 15 12 22
AmaZulu 15 5 5 5 13 10 20
Maritzburg Utd 15 4 7 4 16 21 19
Arrows 15 4 2 9 16 25 14
Platinum 15 3 4 8 14 18 13
Santos 15 3 3 9 15 26 12
Leopards 15 2 4 9 14 31 10
Cosmos 15 1 6 8 12 24 9