DStv Premiership Review – Winners And Losers By Opta Jabu

Milestone wins for Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City were the biggest talking points of the PSL weekend, with the two teams bookmarked as biggest winners this weekend. On the other hand, Cape Town Spurs and Orlando Pirates head the loser’s section, while we also have stats on Shalulile, players from the Ivory Coast, and a form goalkeeper from the Western Cape coast.

Winners

Kaizer Chiefs – Winner

Now just six points away from a CAF spot, Kaizer Chiefs enjoyed a somewhat comfortable Sunday afternoon. Given the noise around Naturena, a straightforward 1-0 win would have been gladly received. Key to this win was a compact, well-organized defence that allowed the opposition just one shot on target. But the Glamour Boys also had the discipline and wherewithal not to panic as the goal didn’t come.

It’s a trait that has served them well this season and may well be a foundation for Cavin Johnson to build on. Christian Saile’s 82nd-minute goal was the sixth that Chiefs have scored in the final 15 minutes, as many as they managed in that period of games throughout last season.

In fact, no team has more goals after the 75th minute in 2023/24 than Chiefs (6, level with SuperSport). Amakhosi now faces Polokwane City (8th), Richards Bay (15th), and Sekhukhune (13th) before the January break, and will see this as a chance to get at least 7 points and move further up the table.

400 – The 1-0 win over Swallows was Kaizer Chiefs’ 400th league win in the PSL, only the second PSL side to reach the mark (after Sundowns).

Stellenbosch’s KZN Preparations – Winner

“It’s always been a difficult place to come, and we have to get used to it.”

This has been a bit of a hoodoo fixture for Steve Barker and his men, and Barker was quick to acknowledge this after the game. Prior to this weekend, Stellies had won just one point away to AmaZulu (in four games), their lowest points total away to any side since their 2019 promotion. Yet, Anicet Oura’s goal at the half-hour proved enough for three points on the day. With a Cup semi-final and a possible final also in KZN in the next few weeks, this win couldn’t have come at a better time.

Anicet Oura – Winner

The ninth Ivorian to score a league goal in PSL history, but the first since Cheick Bamba Soumaro for Marumo Gallants in April. However, Oura is the first Ivorian to score in the league for Stellies, although Olivier Toure scored for them in the MTN8 this season.

Sage Stephens – Winner

The Stellies keeper is enjoying a purple patch with three clean sheets in four games. His penalty save over the weekend adds to a growing collection of top-drawer saves he’s pulled this season.

5 – Stellies already have 5 clean sheets in 12 games this season, just one fewer than they managed throughout all of last season (6).

TS Galaxy– Winner

Their biggest win of the season, and one that releases some pressure off Sead Ramovic. The Rockets are a hard team to beat once they have the front foot.

37/39 – Under Sead Ramovic, TS Galaxy have dropped points only once when leading at half-time, winning 12 such games and drawing once.

Peter Shalulile And Cup Competitions – Winner

He came back from injury to score in the AFL finals, and he’s continued where he left off. The Namibian has already made his mark in South Africa, and at 30 may still have a few more years to break more records. If he stays. This was the 30th goal he’s scored for Sundowns in Cup competitions, extending his record as the club’s outright top Cup scorer in PSL history.

33 – Overall, this was Shalulile’s 33rd goal in Cup competitions (30 for Sundowns, 3 for Highlands Park) – no player in PSL history has scored more goals in Cup competition than him.

Eric Tinkler – Winner

Sundowns coaches excluded, only Benni McCarthy, Josef Zinnbauer, Ernst Middendorp, and Joe Riveiro have won six league games in a row in the last five years. Not only does Eric Tinkler join that exclusive list, but he does also so from the summit of the table. Cape Town City will spend a few days at the top of the table for the first time since 18 August 2017. Six wins on the trot is a first for the club, and so is winning three away games in a row in the same season.

1 – This is the first time in his coaching career that Eric Tinkler has won six league games in a row.

Losers

Cape Town Spurs- Loser

A first game for Ernst Middendorp, and a first defeat. He accepted the job because he knew the lay of the land. But he needs results as soon as possible, starting with a Cape derby this week. Spurs are actually decent scorers, with 10 goals in 12 games placing them joint-8th for goals scored. Yet, their defence remains a worry. Spurs are just the sixth side in 28 years of PSL history to concede 24+ goals in their first 12 games of a season.

2010 – This hasn’t happened since 2010/11 when Mpumalanga Black Aces let in 25 in 12 mostly under Neil Tovey.

Orlando Pirates’ Goalscoring Woes – Loser

We are approaching the halfway stage of the season, and Pirates have scored more than one open-play goal just twice in the league. The excellent form of Zakhele Lepasa had masked a problem that was sooner going to haunt the Buccaneers – in that they are just not clinical.

“We’re not really the luckiest team in the world…” – Jose Riveiro said post-game, in what sounds like a diplomatic translation of a lingering problem. But he may have a point.

20 – Only Cape Town City (22) have created more big chances than Pirates this season (20), with Pirates playing two games less.

Golden Arrows – Loser

What has happened with the reigning Coach of the Month? Arrows have now lost four in a row (all comps) for the first time since the Covid pandemic.

AmaZulu & Black Friday weekends – Loser

0 – AmaZulu remain winless in 14 league games played on #BlackFriday weekends (P14 W0 D7 L7) – the longest any PSL team has gone without a win on this weekend

Thabang Monare – Loser

A red card on its own is forgivable; it is part of the game. But a red card for an alleged altercation with a ball-boy certainly shouldn’t be – the optics on this do not look good.