13 January 2019, by: Thabang Kgeledi

PSL Talking Points – Matchday 18

Kaizer Chiefs got back to winning ways with another victory over Cape Town City, it’s the third time this season to extend their lead to six points.

Elsewhere, Orlando Pirates will be buzzing after a big win over the weeeknd as well as Supersport United.

As usual, we’ve got your biggest talking points from the PSL Matchday 18.

A couple of bad results at the end of last year saw Kaizer Chiefs shrink their 12 point lead at the top of the PSL table to only four. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this week with a thumping 3-0 win over Highlands on Wednesday then another 3-0 beat down of Cape Town City over the weekend.

Struggling Cape Town City had no answers for Kaizer Chiefs’ quick transition play and aerial prowess. Games between these two teams in the past were competitive with Chiefs having the edge. Nowadays watching a Chiefs and City match is an exercise of counting how many goals is the latter going to concede.

Amakhosi increased their lead to 9 points whilst their closest rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits had games in Africa. Those two clubs may have games in hand but those don’t necessarily translate into points.

Speaking of Cape Town City, the Citizens are one heck of a mess. On Sunday they went down by 3 goals to 0 against a rampant Kaizer Chiefs. Ever since they came into the league in 2016, City have been competing for the league. This season they are competing to stay in it and will be excited if they achieve that feat.

Cape Town City boss John Comitis fired Benni Mccarthy after a string of bad results. He hired Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink and he hasn’t done any better having only won one of his first seven games. I’d be lying if I say I feel sorry for them because a team with their riches and talent should be performing better.

Supersport United put woeful Amazulu to the sword with a 0-2 pounding on Sunday afternoon. In their pursuit of the league, United have been inconsistent as their record of four draws, one loss, and five wins in their last 10 games illustrate.

United have a good record against teams in the top 8 (Kaizer Chiefs, Bidvest Wits, Highlands Park) but seem to struggle against teams they should be beating (Stellenbosch, Black Leopards, Chippa United).

Supersport United coach Kaitano Tembo’s has a good mix of veterans and young talent. If he can find a way to have them playing their brand of winning football every week they have a chance of throwing their hat in the championship race.

Polokwane and Black Leopards occupy the bottom two places on the Absa Premiership log.

Black leopards vastly improved their squad from last season with the likes of Thabo Matlaba, Edwin, Gyimah, Thuso Phala. They also kept hold of the PSL’s leading goal scorer if last season Mwape Musonda. They, however, can manufacture a way to win games. Leopards have been on a torrid four-game losing streak including last weekends 4-2 loss against Bloemfontein Celtics.

Polokwane City are in deeper water than their Limpopo province mates. City have played the worst football in the league and deserve to be the last place. Last season Polokwane city finished in an impressive 5th position. This season they can’t even finish a game with conceded at least a couple of goals with pretty much the same team.

It would be a shame to see two teams from the same province get the chop.

When you see Stellenbosch on your fixture list you circle the game and pencil in ‘guaranteed three points’. The newly-promoted team from Cape Town has found it tough going in the league with the big boys.

“We will have to refresh the team and rotate with these three games in seven days‚,” said coach Steve Barker‚ before their game against Highlands Park.

The changes worked. Stellenbosch put four past Highlands Park and won their first game against a good PSL Team. Well, it’s technically their second as they did beat Orlando Pirates in October but the win was a fluke.

This big win could mean the start of good things and surge up the log or it could mean nothing. Either way, they are still some way away from being a top 8 team.

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