Happy New Year DISKIOFF readers!!!! Reading Nito's article made one read with interest. Why is he saying this season is the best PSL ever, only to find out that he is talking about Mamelodi Sundowns. There were few lines that he spoke about Irvin Khoza, Kaizer Chiefs, Bay United and Owen Da Gama, but the whole article was Sundowns. Is this how you judge the Premier Soccer League? The answer is a big NO!When I was reading the article I was expecting to hear at least few differences from the beginning of the Premier Soccer League (1996) up until now. What I got was all the teams were strong which implies that the past season teams were not all strong.
Let me help Nito finish his article (according to me the article was not completed).
Premier Soccer League (PSL) began in 1996 and most of us were still in shock when Cape Town Spurs won it (95 NSL) and SA Cup (BobSave), but that didn’t stop there. We were once again shocked when Manning Rangers took it. They were lots of questions asked about the fading of big teams which is still happening if the big three lose.
1997 to 2000 Sundowns surprised everyone by winning the PSL three times in a row… there in between (98/99 season) - it was a really tight finish. Sundowns were on top with +6 goal difference to Chiefs. Chiefs’ last game was against bottom team Blackpool, while Sundowns were up against a hard to beat Cape Town Spurs.
SABC did a great job by showing us both games LIVE. This was a season that to me stood out not only because of tight finish, but that season contributed to the rival between Sundowns and Chiefs. And Moroka Swallows was one of team that was battling it out at relegation zone. Even though Sundowns and Chiefs were the best by far teams - this league was interesting! If you missed it you really missed a gem.
Pirates were no where to be found in the 90s PSL, and the supporters and chairman were in pain cause of poor performances from their team. This resulted in firing of coaches each and every season.
In 2000/01 they got it right when they won the PSL Championship. This season was also the birth of Ajax Cape Town. Pirates’ victory created pressure to Chiefs. Chiefs were now the only big team without PSL trophy in the PSL. Kaizer Motaung felt being out-sided and he wanted PSL triumph and also the supporters.
However, it wasn’t to be as Santos took it the following season. The 2002/03 season was a must win for Chiefs, but it proved to be a bad season hence Mushin Ertugral was fired and Pirates took it for the second time… increasing pressure to their rivals from Soweto.
From 2000 Swallows started playing like giants and since then they are always in the top 8. Also Supersport United was becoming a formidable team and Jomo Cosmos also making a mark by winning and losing in Cup finals.
At long last Amakhosi managed to win the LEAGUE after hiring former Sundowns coach, Ted Dumitru, and he did that twice with Chiefs. And the was also another tight finish, but this time it was the Soweto Giants (Chiefs and Pirates) in the ring and SABC gave us a double header, but Chiefs came up on tops after Pirates came short of the goals they were required to score… and worst they manage a draw.
Sundowns reclaim the title in the following two seasons taking pressure of Patrice Motsepe and coaches. But this came after a bunch of coaches were shown the door. Then last season Supersport and Ajax made another tight finishing, but Supersport were crowed the champions at the end of the day.
Let’s wait until the end of this season to see if the will be a tight finish. But looking back it shows that small teams can win the league once and big teams will take it the following season.
So Nito, this PSL history will help u finish your article because you only spoke about this season not telling us what was wrong in the past seasons.
DR NDIVHUWO (Diskioff writer)
E: doctor.diskioff@gmail.com
Remember it’s not personal but my view!
