With the end of the 2024 Premiership year fast approaching, teams are in a frantic race to improve their log positions, leading to some intense and dramatic moments across the league. The weekend brought to light various story lines, highlighting both the competitive spirit and the underlying tensions in South African football.
Malesela: These kids have the balls to cheat and steal
Marumo Gallants coach Dan 'Dance' Malesela could not stand idly by while the Polokwane City's ball boys indulged in the dark arts of time-wasting tactics. Gallants were pressing for an equaliser in the second half after Polokwane's first-half goal. However, the local ball boys inadvertently acted as extra players for Polokwane, helping to prolong the match.
Losing his patience, Malesela stormed off his bench to reprimand the ball boy, saying, "You are teaching this child to cheat. Now this child will start cheating at school as well. And cheating leads to stealing because you are stealing from the game."
These ball boys had also drawn ire last week when they faced off against Chiefs, with AmaKhosi fans reportedly pelting one with missiles.
A special victory for the club, but the job's not done ✨️ pic.twitter.com/TochTLVCEz
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) December 15, 2024
From the frying pan into the fire for Stellies jet-setters
Stellenbosch FC is grappling with a punishing match schedule that could break even the most resolute teams. After returning from a journey to Angola on Monday, they faced the gruelling prospect of hosting Mamelodi Sundowns at the Cape Town Stadium just two days later.
Their first training session following an exhausting eight-hour flight will be today. This follows a similar ordeal just two weeks ago, having played in Mali.
Despite the fatigue, Stellenbosch showed resilience, edging out Orlando Pirates on their home turf. The pressing challenge now lies in finding their footing against Sundowns, an equally formidable opponent.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander – apparently not!
Orlando Pirates faced a cancellation upon their return from Ivory Coast, as a scheduled Premiership match against Sekhukhune United was postponed by the PSL. This decision has raised eyebrows, especially considering that Stellenbosch and Sundowns played CAF matches on the same day without any match postponements.
With no Premiership matches scheduled for Thursday, questions linger about the PSL’s decision-making processes. The Pirates' postponement seemed to demand similar treatment for other teams facing tight turnaround schedules, signalling a need for consistency in league governance.
Tinkler cracks a rare smile
After languishing near the relegation zone, Cape Town City found a glimmer of hope with a late 1-0 victory over Chippa United in East London. This much-needed win lifted them up to 10th place, allowing coach Eric Tinkler to finally break out a smile as he celebrated with his players. The now jubilant City side will look to build momentum as they host AmaZulu FC on December 29, aiming to close out the year on a high note.
SuperSport United is on the up again
At long last, SuperSport United appears to be turning the tide after a challenging start to the season. The team secured back-to-back Betway Premiership victories for the first time this season, defeating Magesi FC 1-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium. As they eye a milestone of 1 000 matches in charge of various PSL teams, coach Gavin Hunt is counting on strikers Bradley Grobler and newcomer Samir Nurkovic to sustain their newfound winning ways.