MTNFootball 2012/13 PSL Predictions!
The new Premier Soccer League season gets
under way this weekend and MTNFootball.com makes a few predictions for the
coming campaign.
Orlando Pirates will be going for a third
successive championship success, something that Mamelodi Sundowns and
SuperSport United have both managed since the inception of the PSL in 1996/97.
With this likely to be the final domestic
season that runs from August to May before the League reverts to the
February-November calendar, there is another chance for history to be made.
Intriguingly, there looks to be as many as
six or seven clubs who could lay claim to be genuine title contenders this
season, evidence that the PSL is far from the two- or three-horses races that
we see across Europe.
In fact, the title has been decided on the
final day of the season in four of the last five years, thrilling ends that
have grown the competitions reputation as the most watchable League in Africa.
Orlando
Pirates will be the favourites given their recent
trophy success that has seen them capture six titles out of eight in the last
two seasons.
There work in the transfer market has been
uninspiring, but they have managed to add depth to the squad and this could
become important as the campaign wears on. Despite winning the League last
season, the jury is also out on Peruvian coach Augusto Palacios and whether he
can get the team to play well when the chips are down.
Mamelodi
Sundowns have arguably the best squad of players in
the PSL, but in the past have battled to get a sense of ‘togetherness’ within
the team. Now in his second season with the club, Dutch coach Johan Neeskens
will know a lot more about the domestic game and the often fragile temperament
of the South African players. It is tough to spot a weakness in their make-up.
SuperSport
United have also bought very well in the
off-season, though the impending loss of Kermit Erasmus to Sweden is a blow.
They definitely have the squad to be title contenders and coach Gavin Hunt will
hope he does not have a repeat of last season’s crippling injury problems.
Last season’s runners-up Moroka Swallows may find it difficult
to replicate their success now that they have lost coach Gordon Igesund to
Bafana Bafana. They have kept continuity with Igesund’s assistant Zeca Marques
now in charge, while the squad also remains largely the same. They are probably
looking at top-six again.
Kaizer
Chiefs fans may well be wondering what their season
will bring following their 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Sundowns in the MTN8
quarterfinals on Sunday.
But having completely reshuffled the
backline, it will take time for the players to gel and they are likely to get
better as the campaign wears on.
They will just hope they are still in with
a title shout when things do finally begin to click.
BidVest
Wits are perhaps the most interesting club to look
at this campaign, having bought superbly well in the transfer market and with a
new coach in Antonio Habas, who replaced Roger de Sa.
They have added a lot of experience and
international quality to their exciting young squad from last season and if
they can get a fast start, expect them to be right up there among the leaders.
Ajax
Cape Town have said they want a top five finish
this season, but maybe top eight should be their target as they admitted at the
same time that they will always be a selling club.
They have still not managed to replace Thulani
Serero, who left for Ajax Amsterdam at the end of the 2010/11 season, while the
further loss of George Maluleka ahead of this campaign is another bitter blow.
Bloemfontein
Celtic had an up and down season last year and a
clear-out of playing staff by coach Clinton Larsen is the close-season means we
will see a very different Phunya Sele Sele this campaign.
They have potential to be a top five side,
without having the quality in the striking department to be real title-challengers.
Top eight is their minimum target though and even that might not be enough for
Larsen.
AmaZulu have been very quiet in the transfer market and the loss of Thami
Sangweni to Sundowns is a big blow to coach Roger Palmgren. They look a decent
team of grafters, but might have to settle for the positions 8-12 this season.
Free
State Stars managed a brilliant sixth-place last
season, but just about all of their star names have been snapped up by other
clubs. Coach Steve Komphela is one of the most astute in the PSL, and so he
will know about the tough challenge that lies ahead. Top eight will be a
brilliant campaign.
Platinum Stars have brought in 13
new players as they seek to put behind them two disappointing campaigns in a
row that have ended with 10th-place finishers. They have the
impressive Cavin Johnson in charge now and look to have purchased well, mixing
youth with PSL experience.
There big challenge is to break into the
top-eight, but that might come a season too soon for this young squad.
Maritzburg
United have made some top signings in the
close-season and are one of those teams that if they get on a run, could
surprise. They have the erratic Ernst Middendorp in charge though and so are
also as likely to plunge towards the relegation zone.
The same can be said for Lamontville
Golden Arrows, who have lost some top talent in the close-season, mostly
players who have returned to their parent clubs after loan spells.
They have brought in players from Latvia and Mali, who may take some time to
settle in the PSL, and so are also a bit of an unknown this year. They could be
in for a relegation scrap though.
Black
Leopards beat the drop last season and then took
South African fans on a delightful run through to the fourth round of the CAF
Confederation Cup.
They will hope to take the experiences of
last season and build on them for a better season in 2012/13, but you get the
feeling they will be in the lower end of the table again.
University
of Pretoria have a good coach in Steve Barker, but
lack the financial muscle to adequately build a squad capable of pushing into
the top half of the table. It could be a long season for them, and one that ultimately
may end in disappointment.
Chippa
United are one of the great fairytale stories of
South African football, having risen from the third-tier to the top-flight in
two seasons.
Just how they will cope now remains to be
seen, but having been driven from their ‘fortress’ of the Philippi Stadium to
the less hostile surrounds of the Cape Town Stadium and Athlone Stadium, they
do not have much going for them.
Coach Manqoba Mngqithi has a great football brain, but is not necessarily the right man to lead a side in a relegation scrap. They could end up bottom of the pile.
MTNFootball.com’s Predicted Final 2012/13 PSL Table
1. Mamelodi Sundowns
2. SuperSport United
3. Orlando Pirates
4. BidVest Wits
5. Kaizer Chiefs
6. Ajax Cape Town
7. Moroka Swallows
8. Bloemfontein Celtic
9. Platinum Stars
10. Maritzburg United
11. Free State Stars
12. AmaZulu
13. Lamontville Golden Arrows
14. Black Leopards
15. University of Pretoria
16. Chippa United
{message}