DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Every Monday, we make sense of the PSL weekend by bringing you a Winners & Losers column. Here, we share our statistical opinion on which teams have won the weekend, and which teams can take home the L. This week is no different, with Gavin Hunt leading the Winners section, while the champions feature in the Losers section. What a difference one week makes in football!!

Gavin Hunt – Winner

t is fair to say football has evolved since Gavin Hunt first took charge of a PSL game in the late 90s. But is it fair to say that the game has grown and left him behind? For all the data and technology available to managers in today’s game, pure football knowledge is still far from being replaced by any sort of artificial intelligence. And this is coming from football data people. One can look at Gavin Hunt and think Arsene Wenger – you’ve had a long career and football administration needs your services. Or one can look at Hunt and think Carlo Ancelotti – you’ve had a long career, now evolve and continue winning trophies. His recent stints at Chiefs and Chippa would hint towards the Wenger path, but the old fox seems determined to take a shot at the Ancelotti route.

Now, one win against Sundowns is not a trophy, but the signs have been evident from the beginning of the season. SuperSport are one of the best teams at creating quality chances and denying them at the other end. They don’t create too many chances, but when they do, they are usually quality ones.

On the podcast last weekend, we hinted that SuperSport were one of the best placed teams to beat Sundowns, and so it proved on the day. For added bonus, we also hinted at a late goal for Sundowns – which proved true, only to be just a consolation. Despite missing many players, Hunt still pulled off his first Tshwane derby win since 2019.

47 – This was Gavin Hunt’s 47th league game against Sundowns, more than he has faced any other PSL team (W14 D13 L20).

Bradley Grobler – Winner

If Gavin Hunt is an older coach proving he still has it, then Bradley Grobler is the equivalent on the playing field. Coming into this game, Grobler had not scored in 24 matches against Sundowns, but his header earned him his first ever goal against them, in his 25th attempt. The goal came 13 years 262 days after his first game against them in December 2008 for Platinum Stars.

It may have gone under the radar, but Grobler has also recently gone past the 90-goal mark as a PSL player. This weekend’s goal was Number 92, leaving him just eight goals from becoming the sixth player in PSL history to reach 100. In scoring against Sundowns, Grobler also added to his collection.

21 – Sundowns are the 21st different team that Grobler has scored a league goal against. Of currently active players, only Bernard Parker (22) has scored against more different opponents.

Golden Arrows – Winner

Back-to-back wins for the 2nd time this year, and 3rd time since the start of last season. Arrows survived a late scare, but that’s the level of insurance you get when you’re three goals to the good.

The League Nebies – Winner

Richards Bay are just the second newly promoted side in the last 10 seasons to win 10+ points in their opening six games (after 20/21 Swallows who won 12 pts). The weekend win is even more impressive given that Stellenbpsch were unbeaten at home this year (W3 D5 in 2022). It could also bode well for the future:

0 – No newly promoted sides have finished in the bottom-half of the table having won 10+ points in their opening six games.

John Maduka- Winner

A first win against Orlando Pirates in six attempts. The penalty was soft and late, but that has been the story of their season. Three of their four goals have come in the last 10 minutes of matches, earning them a handy five points.

An Exciting League- Winner

Or are we counting our chickens too early:

5 – Five teams have spent a night at the top of the DSTV Premiership. The last time more teams spent at least one night atop the league was 2017/18, when seven teams topped the table at some point.

Sundowns Comeback Record – Loser

For all the record breaking antics of the last few years, Sundowns are actually not very good at comebacks. Just after half-time on Friday night, we shared that this was the 25th time in PSL history they were trailing by a margin of 2+ at half-time in a league match. They’ve now lost 24 of the 25 matches from this scenario (Won 1). The only win came in November 2000, against Ria Stars – from 2-0 down at half-time to a 5-2 win.

The idea that this is a curse is probably nonsense, but even as banter, it holds true to a point. We highlighted these comeback struggles when they last lost (v TS Galaxy), and suggested that opposition teams could take that playbook and be more adventurous against the champions. Attacking (with sense) is the best way to combat Sundowns, but alas, none have taken note.

0 – Since the start of last season, Sundowns have not won any of the six league games when the opposition scores first (W0 D2 L4).

Stellenbosch – Loser

This was the season when Stellenbosch were expected to make further progress. But a first home defeat in 2022 is another blow to those ambitions.

Kaizer Chiefs – Loser

20/21 – 6 points from 6 matches (Gavin Hunt)

21/22 – 6 points from 6 (Stuart Baxter)

22/23 – 7 points from 6 (Arthur Zwane)

The glass half-full people will see this as an improvement, but the glass half-empty will see this as an average return. The latter is probably right.

Pirates – Loser

The beauty of playing the last game of the week is that you already know the results of your rivals before you kick a ball. Pirates went into the Maritzburg tie knowing that a win would restore their status at the top of the league table. The late goal didn’t help.

4 – Pirates have lost each of their last four league games when the opposition scored first.