12 August 2019, by: Thabang Kgeledi

PSL TALKING POINTS – MATCHDAY 2

In their first game of the new season, Amakhosi may have got a little lucky with coming away with a win against Highlands Park. In their second match, they played well… well enough to secure three points against Black Leopards.

As you know, playing well doesn’t necessarily translate into getting favourable results. The opposite is true too. Playing bland uninspiring football like Kaizer Chiefs is at the moment, doesn’t mean you destined to draw or lose games. Last season, Chiefs would have lost against Highlands Park and then gone on to draw with Leopards the following week.

There seems to be a resilience about the team now. Sure, they aren’t playing the champagne football their supporters would like to see but two games in and they have six points and are top of the table. Show me a Chiefs supporter who wouldn’t take that.

Chiefs may have been getting good results at the moment but a time will come where luck and resiliency won’t help them win games – especially against better teams. In those cases, they are going to need their best players to play their best football.

Their very best player Khama Billiat has been linked with a move back to his formers club Mamelodi Sundowns. Apparently, Downs are willing to pay a boatload of money for him and quadruple is already exorbitant salary.

Billiat hasn’t played the last two leagues games for Chiefs. Coach Middendorp says this is due to left knee soreness. I’m not buying it and neither should you.

The Zimbabwean played a part in 19 goals last season which included 9 goals and assists. Kaizer Chiefs cannot afford to let 19 goals walk out the door no matter how much of Motsepe’s millions Sundowns are willing to part with.

After his team’s 1-0 win over Stellenbosch in a one-sided Cape Town derby on Saturday night, in a post-game interview Benni McCarthy was asked what does his team need to do to contend for this season’s championship, he replied:

“I think consistency, you got to do it when you are not playing your best football and you’ve got to win games. And I think Sundowns got over the line last season because they were able to do that when it mattered the most…”

Cape Town City finishing in the past two games has been bad (and I’m being nice). It isn’t a City game until someone in blue misses from three yards out. They brought in Kermit Erasmus last season, he is a scorer of great goals but isn’t a great goal scorer. His attacking teammate’s Gift Links, Chris David (good finish over the weekend), and Surprise Ralani are all talented but are suspect in front of goal.

If their woes in front of goal continue, Keeping Up With Khloorkopians is going to be the least of their problems.

Two wins out of two and Polokwane City are 2nd on the log behind Kaizer Chiefs. Last season, Polokwane City finished 5th and there was a time during the final quarter of the season they had a chance (mathematically) to win the Absa Prem.

In all seriousness, nobody believed tiny Polokwane City would pull off a Leicester City but, it’s a credit to them that they were in the conversation. They are back this season with pretty much the same team. They have a strong squad which is led by their leader and midfield anchor Jabulani Maluleke.

Bloemfontein Celtic suffered a 3-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in their opening match of the season. The scoreline didn’t reflect the true nature of the game, Celtic were competitive and they gave Pirates a scare or two. On Sunday afternoon Celtics came out guns blazing and beat the stuffing out of their former coach Steve Komphela and his Golden Arrows side 5-0.

Their attacking foursome of Masuku, Tshilimbou, Mabena, and Potsane are skilful, quick, and exciting. Their play revolves around their captain and talisman Ndumiso Mabena. They will be a thrilling team to watch this season.

Here is a crazy stat: only one team in the PSL beat (Cape Town City) a team by more than four goals last season. So Celtic did what only one other team was capable of doing in any game last season. And this wasn’t against relegation type team they were playing against a well-coached, potential Top 8 side.

Read our PSL Matchday 2 Predictions here.

Read our PSL Season Predictions here.

PSL Transfers: 7 Players Destined for a Big Move.

MORE SOCCER