Extra Time: Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs should be taking notes from the success of Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune United, writes Michael Madyira.
Mamelodi Sundowns are not guaranteed to win the 2023-24 PSL title – but they are in a commanding position to do exactly that.
The Tshwane giants enjoy 11 points clear at the top of the table, with two games in hand.
The PSL title race is just as good as over, and some are saying “Just give Sundowns their crown”.
Sundowns being on course for a record seventh straight win might make the PSL boring to some, knowing there is one team that is almost sure to win without any competition.
But what has become exciting is the race for second spot.
It is a heated business involving Stellenbosch, Sekhukhune United, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Cape Town City and outsiders TS Galaxy and Kaizer Chiefs.
Second-placed Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune in third look dead serious in the race for second position.
When the season started, these two teams were never in the mix when it came to chasing a CAF Champions League spot for the next season.
But they look determined to play in Africa next season and, looking at their average squads, one wonders what it is they have done to be able to challenge Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
According to Transfermarkt, Stellenbosch’s new arrivals for this season had a total market value of R32.4-million.
Sekhukhune’s new signings amounted to R64-million, a huge effort by a club with few expectations of winning anything.
These are teams that mainly relied on free transfers to build their squads while Chiefs and Pirates spent more than triple what they did to compete for the PSL title.
Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune’s performances have exposed the flaws of the Soweto giants.
One doesn’t need money to build a very expensive team and Gavin Hunt has proved that at SuperSport, where he never spent a cent last season but had his team challenging to play continental football.
What Chiefs and Pirates sorely need is to be articulate in the market and have a sharp eye for quality players who can give them value.
Pictured above: Stellenbosch FC captain Deano va Rooyen leading his teammates against Kaizer Chiefs.
Image source: Stellenbosch FC
