ABSA Premiership
South African football fans are in for a real treat as the
ABSA Premiership reaches its business end in 2018/19 – something akin to the Grand National or the Cheltenham Cup, spearheaded by muscular stallions. There are as many as seven teams realistically in the running - with only eight points between them and just seven matches left to play - although it remains to be seen as to who will saddle up and gallop towards the finish line and who will be left behind at a casual canter.
THE FAVOURITES
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Where better to start than with the defending champions from last season. Pitso Mosimane’s men have endured a somewhat turbulent season by their lofty standards. The Brazilians have endured just two defeats though so far this campaign which has seen them rise to the top of the PSL.
Masandawana currently hold a two-point advantage whilst still having a game in hand over the majority of the chasing pack. Sundowns will face four of the bottom five sides in the division in their final seven fixtures as they aim to secure a record ninth South African title.
THE CHALLENGERS
BIDVEST WITS
Any hopes the Clever Boys might have had of repeating that unexpected title triumph of 2016/17 were dashed in recent weeks as Gavin Hunt’s side were dealt successive blows in the form of three bitterly disappointing defeats from their last five matches in the division, against Highlands Park, Cape Town City and Amazulu respectively.
They turned the corner with an impressive 4-2 victory at Bloem Celtic last time out with Students’ top scorer Gift Motupa on target with his ninth goal of the campaign. They will, in a surprising twist of fortune, face the same six sides as leaders Sundowns’ in their title run-in (Pirates; Chippa; Leopards; Supersport; Baroka; Arrows)
ORLANDO PIRATES
The most realistic threat to Sundowns’ title aspirations are Milutin Sredojevic’s Buccaneers outfit. The Sea Robbers are just three points adrift of the summit and like Sundown, have a game in hand over the rest of the title-chasers.
Pirates will be looking to pile on the pressure when they take on Wits in their next outing – a mammoth clash that could potentially dump one or both these sides out of the running should the pair play out to an unfathomable draw or either suffer the unwanted fate of defeat. The Soweto giants will then face further title-deciders against Cape Town City and Sundowns before the 2018/19 season comes to a dramatic close.
CAPE TOWN CITY
It seems the entire rainbow nation is rallying behind Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City side as they go in search of their maiden top-flight crown, astonishingly just three years after coming into existence in the Mother City and engraining their name on the lips of fans across the country.
They are the leagues leading scorers with 39 goals from their 24 matches thus far thanks to some dazzling displays that has seen them sweep aside the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Supersport United, Wits and Sundowns since the turn of the year to swing themselves right back into title contention.
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