ABSA PREMIERSHIP TITLE RACE: WHO HAS THE BEST RUN-IN?

3 April 2019, by: Leonard Solms

ABSA PREMIERSHIP TITLE RACE: WHO HAS THE BEST RUN-IN?

With just six games remaining in the Absa Premiership season for all of the teams in with a realistic chance of title glory, it is still unclear who will lift the trophy when all is said and done.

Mamelodi Sundowns pipped Orlando Pirates to the title last season and the same two sides are once again competing for the title. This time, they are joined by several worthy competitors. We offer you an overview of the main title contenders, the dark horses and the outsiders.

With only eight points separating league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns from seventh-placed Kaizer Chiefs, it is difficult to tell who to count in the Absa Premiership title race.

Defending champions Sundowns lead second-placed Orlando Pirates and third-placed Bidvest Wits by three points and there is no doubt that these two teams are genuine title rivals for Pitso Mosimane’s men. After Wits and Pirates, it becomes very difficult to tell who has the potential to mount a true title challenge.

Cape Town City are only four points behind Sundowns and have a favourable title run-in, but their relative lack of experience may count against them. The same can be said of SuperSport United, who are five points off the lead.

Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs are also amongst the leading pack and stand every chance of qualifying for the CAF Champions League or CAF Confederation Cup. However, at seven and eight points off the top respectively, they have probably fallen too far behind Sundowns to catch them in just six games.

Assuming the current top five are the true contenders for the Absa Premiership crown, there is little doubt that most if not all of Cape Town City’s rivals would trade places with them. Benni McCarthy’s men will face just one of the top seven between now and the end of the season — Orlando Pirates at Athlone Stadium.

One concern for City is that four of their remaining six fixtures are away games. This plays into the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns, who have three home matches left and will have none of the current top nine still to face after the looming Tshwane derby against SuperSport United.

However, with Sundowns still competing in the CAF Champions League, they risk burning out at a crucial stage of the season — not that Masandawana haven’t been here and overcome this challenge before.

If you agree that Sundowns and Cape Town City have the two best title run-ins, then these are the clubs you should consider betting on. Sundowns are the safe bet at this point given that they lead the pack and have won three of the last five Absa Premiership titles. If you want to put your money on an outsider for bigger potential returns, look no further than Benni McCarthy’s charges in the Mother City.

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