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As the saying goes, it is not over until the fat lady sings, and it looks as if this campaign will not be over until the final whistle as the race for the Absa Premiership title and relegation looks set to go to the wire – at the top and the bottom.
With 18 points still to play for, the talk is all about title contenders and relegation candidates, and nothing about the top eight so far.
This is because as many as nine clubs could still be relegated.
Title race
On paper, it might look like a two-horse contest between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates fighting it out for the top spot, but Bidvest Wits, Cape Town City and SuperSport United should not be ruled out. However, football is not played on paper as only the results on the field will determine who will ultimately win it.
This season has been very competitive and difficult for any team to be a clear-cut winner, but Sundowns are in an ideal position to defend the title successfully. If they do, they will be the first side in seven years to do so.
Sundowns have always come short of defending their title – finishing as runners-up twice after lifting the title.
But with two points ahead and a game in hand over second-placed Bidvest Wits, the title is for the Brazilians to lose. The big question is: Will their involvement in the CAF Champions League derail their domestic ambitions?
Their rivals will be hoping they can benefit from Sundowns’ taxing continental travels. Any slip-up could see their rivals overtaking them at the top.
With six games to go, there will still be more twists and turns in the title race as no team has been consistent enough to walk away from the pack and stake a serious claim for the title.
Four-horse race
As it is, the title race is between four powerhouses – Orlando Pirates, Wits, Cape Town City and SuperSport United.
However, with a mere six and seven points, respectively, separating them from the log leaders, Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs cannot be ruled out.
Relegation candidates
Bottom of the log Maritzburg United look set to go down, but not without a fight.
Coach Eric Tinkler might have inherited a disjointed and demotivated side, but they have shown signs of improvement, though they have won only two of their six games since he took charge. But the Pietermaritzburg side are not the only side likely to go down alone.
With 18 more points still on offer, United could go all the way to 35 points if they win all their matches, meaning anyone from eighth-placed Bloemfontein Celtic, who are on 31 points, could still go down.
The fight for survival looks likely to be ugly and gruelling. Fortunately for Tinkler, four of the remaining games will be against sides that are also in the danger zone – starting with Celtic in their next fixture.
Maritzburg also have Highlands Park, Black Leopards and Baroka in their last game, which could be make or break for them.
This is not the first time they find themselves in this situation. Three seasons ago, they survived the chop in their last game by beating Jomo Cosmos, avoiding going down.
In so doing, they condemned Jomo Sono’s club to the NFD. Tinkler’s men will be hoping for the same outcome when they meet Baroka. But they would not want their last game of the season to be a do or die affair.
Of other relegation candidates, second from the bottom Baroka have tough assignments waiting for them. Besides Chiefs and Wits, they have Sundowns to play along the way. In fact, Bakgaga’s next two games are against Chiefs and Sundowns, which will test their resolve.
After losing their past three games, the pressure is on Wedson Nyirenda to turn the team’s fortunes around. But odds are heavily stacked against the Telkom Knockout champions to beat the drop, judging by their programme.
Chippa United also face the chop as they have the same number of points as Baroka – 21 – and they have tough fixtures ahead.
All but one of the Port Elizabeth-based outfit’s remaining fixtures are against teams fighting for honours – Wits, Cape Town City, Sundowns, Polokwane City and Chiefs. And they have AmaZulu along the way.
Free State Stars – who, until their previous game, have been battling to stave off relegation – eased the pressure on coach Nikola Kavazovic when they convincingly hammered AmaZulu 4-1 last weekend.
Kavazovic will be hoping to build on that emphatic win when the league programme resumes next weekend.
Ea Lla Koto’s next two fixtures are away from home against Highlands Park and Pirates. The reigning Nedbank Cup champions from Bethlehem have trips to Golden Arrows and Chiefs before wrapping up the season against Sundowns at home.
Black Leopards, who have the league’s leading scorer, Musonda Mwape, in their ranks, will be hoping to use the two games in hand to good effect to move away from relegation danger.
But just like Stars, Lidoda Duvha have games against title contenders, starting with next week’s fixture against Pirates. Leopards also have Chiefs, Sundowns, Polokwane City, Wits and Cape Town City on their menu.
While all is playing out on the field, supporters will be enjoying the spectacle unfolding in front of them. It is going to be a bumpy ride – but an enjoyable one.
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