Where exactly is the Absa Premiership title heading?

The Absa Premiership race is fast approaching the home straight. The title race is becoming more intense as the contenders battle it out for top honours. Orlando Pirates are currently favourites to lift the league trophy, but it is almost certain that this race will be decided in the last three matches of the season. Today I am looking at the top contenders chances of winning the league title as we approach the grand finale.

Orlando Pirates

The Buccaneers have made their intentions clear, they want the league title and their performance on the field is testimony to that. The atmosphere from within the club is that of a team that has smelled blood and they are going for the kill, everyone from the supporters, the technical and the players has seen the promised land and they are marching towards it with every game they play. Their good form has seen them going fifteen games without a defeat. If they can keep that up than it is safe to say that this one is in the bag for them.

One thing that has put the bucs in a firm position to win the league is the good form and hunger that their players have shown. Depth in their squad as well as Ruud Krol’s excellent tactical decisions in crucial moments of their games has seen the happy people doing becoming top favourites for the title, and only a drastic loss of form will see them losing the grip towards the end. But that is highly unlikely.

Ajax Cape Town
This should go down as one of the Urban Warriors best seasons ever, if not the finest. The young Cape side has gone about their business of challenging for the title without most people taking notice. If they go on to win the league it will become one of the finest moments in South African football and victory for their excellent commitment to youth development.

Coach Foppe de Haan has done a great job with the team. They play good football and and are effective and getting the necessary results. The only thing that can let Ajax down is if they fail keep their nerve under pressure as the boys are separated from men towards the end of the season. But are indeed dark horses and in football anything is possible. Watch this space.

Kaizer Chiefs
For Amakhosi the story is quiet sad, this is a team that showed great promise the whole season but somehow when it matters most they have failed to deliver. They’ve had a few chances to go on top of the log but inconsistency and an element of bad luck keeps on creeping in. many factors have played a role in their inability to keep the momentum going. Musona's loss of form really hit them where it hurts most, as well as their failure to kill off the opposition when the game was there for the taking.

They have been dropping points in crucial matches and that is hurting their chances of winning the league. But football is a funny game, often cruel as well, Chiefs might just peak at the right time and go on to win the title when most people are beginning to right them off. They are still very much in the race and they can still win league if Pirates fail to keep their current form.

Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns only have themselves to blame for the position they find themselves in. besides the inevitable loss of form that they suffered after a perfect start, internal squabbles have dented their chances of seriously challenging for the league title.

At the moment they are picking up the pieces and they are trying to put their title challenge back on track, but is it a little too late? Only time will tell. They will be hoping that the teams above them drop points and they keep on winning. They still have a real chance to win the league though and anyone who writes them off can do so at their own risk. Football is so unpredictable.

By Siphiwe Hlongwane