DStv Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By Opta Jabu

Opta Jabu combs through the numbers to bring out the biggest Winners and Losers of the PSL weekend.

Winners

Stellenbosch – Winners

Stellenbosch came into this game on the back of a nine-game winless run, the longest winless run by any team this season. 42 minutes in and at 2-0 down, it wasn’t just the game that looked over for Stellies, their season was also on the ropes. Even when Devon Titus pulled one back on the stroke of half-time, the odds (and the stats) were still in favour of City. Stellenbosch had never won a top-flight game from a half-time losing position, so one may be forgiven for assuming Titus’ first goal was a consolation. What happened next could not have been scripted even by the best scriptwriters.

That goal proved to be the spark for a second-half comeback that Stellies fans have waited almost four years to witness. We have often bemoaned their reliance on youth as a risky exercise, but on this day, the vigours of youth won. The back six that City started the game with have a combined age of 171 – four of the five oldest players at the club were part of this defence. One or two players aside, Stellies could never hope to match City for quality, but they could resolve to outdo them for hunger and passion, which is what they showed on a memorable evening in the Winelands. This was a match that will likely be a finalist for Game of the Season, as Stellies turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win.

0 – Stellies are now unbeaten in their last five derby matches versus City, winning four & drawing one.

Steve Barker – Winner

You could see in his celebration that this was an important win for the coach. Given loads of injuries and winter departures, the club’s inactivity in the current transfer window has been surprising. But his youngsters came through, with a 22 and 23-year-old saving the day.

Mamelodi Sundowns – Winner

Not the first time that Sundowns has been part of the winners list this season. And it is probably not the last. They are now officially the fastest team to reach 50 points in PSL history, and that 71-point end-of-season record looks to be in danger.

7 – Sundowns have won their first seven top-flight matches in 2023, equalling the longest-ever winning run by a PSL team from the start of a calendar year in top-flight history (199 Sundowns also 7).

Peter Shalulile – Winner

His 61st goal for Sundowns since joining the club two and a half seasons ago. He has gone past Tso Vilakazi (Pirates’ all-time PSL top-scorer) and is one behind Bernard Parker (Chiefs’ all time PSL top-scorer). It’s getting more and more ridiculous.

Godspower Ighodaro – Winner

Three in three for the Nigerian international, who has taken his tally to seven for the season (only Shalulile has more). We intentionally put him below Shalulile because he is still a Sundown’s asset, and is heir-apparent to the Namibian should he ever leave. But imagine if they kept both.

3 – Only one player in Chippa’s top-flight history has ever scored in more than three consecutive games for the club (Eva Nga, 5 games in 2021)

TS Galaxy – Winner

They were starting to build a reputation as champions of the 0-0 draw. Seven of TS Galaxy’s matches had ended 0-0 by the start of January, the most goalless draws by a side at the half-way stage of a season in PSL history. 1-0 after half-an-hour was a surprise – it was their 2nd earliest goal of the season. 2-0 at half-time was a bit of a shock – this was just the 2nd time in their top-flight history they led 2-0 at the break. But 4-0 at full-time was heaven. 

4 – TS Galaxy’s 4-0 win over Arrows is their biggest winning margin since they joined the top-flight.

Barnard Parker’s Longevity – Winner

The goal against Arrows meant Parker has now scored a league goal in 14 different calendar years (2006 to date, except 2009, 2010, and 2020). Only Bradley Grobler (16), Siya Nomvete & Nathan Paulse (both 15) have scored in more different years.

Kaizer Chiefs – Winner

Chiefs won their first league game of 2023, ending their longest wait for a win at the start of a new year since 2010 (4 games without a win). Notably, they also scored their first goal(s) of the year.

4 – Four games was Chiefs’ longest wait for a goal at the start of a new year in PSL history.

Losers

Cape Town City’s Defence

“This is probably by far our worst defensive display this season and that angers me.” – Eric Tinkler after the game.

Recently, City went on an eight-game run without a clean sheet, their longest streak of matches without one under Eric Tinkler (both his spells). In the last few games, they’ve started matches with five at the back, a tactical switch designed to fix the obvious problem. It seemed to work in the 1-0 win over TS Galaxy last week, and at 2-0 up here, the signs were equally promising. But Tinkler seemed to revert to 4-at-the-back at the break. One would pin that as the changing point, but the truth is they were pretty open throughout the game. This was only the second time since the start of last year City conceded 3+ in a league game, and Tinkler’s mini-revival is in danger of flattening out.

Two of the three goals conceded here could have been avoided if the defence applied the basics of defending. First, Tariq Fielies miscontrolled a ball destined for the keeper’s hand into the attacker’s path. Later, Mendieta was allowed loads of space to sweep in a cross that Devon Titus duly finished.

1 – This is the first time a Tinkler-led Cape Town City lost a league game they led at half-time.

Golden Arrows – Loser

Arrows have been in the top-flight for the better part of 22 years. This was only the 5th time they lost by a margin of four goals or more. They are one of those sides that are never in total disaster but never challenging for the title, yet if they are not careful, they will find themselves needing to pull away from danger in the last few months of the season.

Royal AM – Loser

They couldn’t have chosen a better time to visit Chiefs.

5 – Royal AM have now lost five away games in a row, the worst such run by any team this season.

Dan Malesela – Loser

In his first twelve games in charge of Gallants last season, Dan Malesela won seven, drew three, and lost two. In his first twelve games this time around, the tables have turned – lost seven, drew three, and won two. They remain rooted at the bottom of the table, having played more games than any other relegation candidate. Time is running out.

SuperSport United – Loser

What was supposed to be a blip is slowly developing into a rut. After scoring in 11 straight games, they haven’t scored in three games now (save for one own goal).