DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Every Monday, we comb through the numbers to bring out the Biggest Winners and Losers of the PSL weekend.

Caleb Bimenyimana – Winner

Edmilson Dove was given the Man of the Match award for a second game running, but the signing of Caleb Bimenyimana could prove to be the difference-maker for this Kaizer Chiefs side. With Peter Shalulile already taking steps to run off with the Golden Boot, Caleb has stepped in to ensure a lively race. Three penalties may sound like gifts, but the ability to dispatch all of them so expertly under pressure must not be overlooked. Throughout the transfer window, Chiefs supporters have been biting their nails over the absence of a 15-20 goal-a-season striker in the team. In the Burundian, their prayers may be answered. By 5 pm on Sunday, they were cheering another goal glut, taking him to 6 goals in Chiefs colours. He is the first player in PSL top-flight history to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single game. But it’s a special moment also for his country.

1 – Bimenyimana is the first Burundian to score a hat-trick in the PSL, with Burundi the 17th different nation to be represented by a hat-trick scorer in the top-flight

Kaizer Chiefs & Arthur Zwane – Winner

A few days ago, Chiefs’ woeful away form was the subject of ridicule. But back-to-back away wins have turned the tables and Arthur Zwane is the one left laughing. And they’ve done that the hard way, conceding the opening goal once again on Sunday. Chiefs had come into this game winless in eight league matches against Cape-based opposition, so heads may have dropped when Stellies opened the scoring on the half-hour. But they rallied back, showing a resolve that has been missing for a while. Seven points won from losing positions this season is four more than the whole of last season. This character was also on display against SuperSport, and on Sunday they showed it was not a fluke.

2 – Chiefs have come back to win back-to-back games after conceding the opening goal for only the 2nd time in PSL history (also Jan 018 under Komphela).

Mamelodi Sundowns – Winner

Downs v La Passe was the 19th meeting between a PSL side and one from Seychelles in CAF competitions, with PSL teams winning 17 of the previous 18 by an aggregate score of 70 – 11. That aggregate is up to 77 – 11.

Kaizer Richards Bay’s Bravery- Winner

Keeping a clean sheet as a newly promoted side away to Pirates is a big ask. Keeping a clean sheet as a new side with 10 men is even bigger. But the Rich Boyz did just that.

7 – Richards Bay have kept seven clean sheets in 10 games, the most ever recorded by a newly-promoted side at this stage of a PSL top-flight season (the previous best was 5 in 10)

Supersport United- Winner

Since the beginning of September, no team has won more games (4), scored more goals (11) and collected more points (12) than Hunt’s side.

Credit where it’s due.

Bradley Grobler – Winner

Another one to add to his collection. Because this was his first goal against Sekhukhune United, he has now scored against 23 different PSL sides. In PSL top-flight history, only Patrick Mayo & Tico-Tico Bucuane (both 24) have scored against more different opponents. He may break that record this season.

Orlando Pirates – Loser

It’s not that Orlando Pirates were poor – the opposite, in fact. Pirates fired 16 shots at the Richards Bay goal, the most they have managed in a league game this season. They made their way into the Richards Bay box 25 times, also a league-high this season (25 also v Chippa). Indeed, the coach considered his team unfortunate to drop points here, saying:

“We were not accurate in the last pass. We were not precise enough and we did not generate enough to get a result here…”

Sadly, this is nothing new. Time and time again, Pirates have seen more of the ball only to waste it in the final third, mostly with wayward shots and incorrect decisions when they get it. Only Sundowns have made more box entries than Pirates this season, but Riviero will need to find a way of bringing sharpness to an attack that has struggled to make the most of their inroads. The lingering concern will be that they failed to score against 10 men. What will happen when they come up against better teams?

6 – Six goals in the first 10 games is Orlando Pirates’ worst total at this stage of a season in PSL history (the previous lowest was 8 in 2017/18).

Stellenbosch FC – Loser

This was the first time since March 2021 that Stellies lost after taking the lead, breaking an unbeaten run of 24 such games.

Sekhukhune United – Loser

A betting man placing punts on Home Win/Draw when Sekhukhune are the visiting side would have made some good money this year.

13 – Sekhukhune are now winless away from home since December last year, the second longest run of any side.

They play away again next week, punters.