PSL race could be decided by Sunday
By Rodney Reiners
For Santos, this is the crucial week that will determine whether soccer's Premier League trophy comes to Cape Town.
On Wednesday night Santos take on Wits University in the first match of a double-header at Green Point stadium and on Sunday they are away to Bush Bucks in East London. Six points from the two encounters and the league title is virtually assured.
As the situation stands, log leaders Santos can only lose the championship.
The only way for Supersport United, Orlando Pirates, Moroka Swallows, Sundowns or Jomo Cosmos to pip Santos is for the Cape team to falter.
And in Wits on Wednesday Santos face competitive opponents. The Milpark-based club has undergone a metamorphosis since former goalkeeper Roger de Sa took over as head coach.
No longer do Wits play the dour, kick-and-run football for which they were once notorious. De Sa has quality footballers who knock the ball around and he has encouraged an open, attractive brand of football.
Wits are in ninth spot on the league table, testimony to how well they have done this season. The squad has also been rewarded with national call-ups for defender Tony Coyle and forward Josta Dladla. Dladla, especially, has been in brilliant form and his pace and guile have seen him net seven times this season.
Santos have defender Craig Rosslee suspended, but the good news is that goalkeeper Andre Arendse is likely to be fit.
Arendse withdrew from the Bafana squad for Wednesday's friendly international against Georgia in Tblisi, but coach Gordon Igesund said his goalkeeper's hamstring had responded well to treatment and he should be fine for the match against Wits.
Igesund was quick to acknowledge that this is the crucial week.
"This is a big week for us," he said.
"I know that every week and every game have been crucial for us this season, but with only five games left, it has now come to the crunch period.
"Teams are snapping at our heels and we have to keep our focus. We won't do anything differently. We'll take it one game at time, there's no panic, we'll be professional and fight for everything."
Squads:
Santos: Andre Arendse, Innocent Mayoyo, Edries Burton, John Mbidzo, Musa Otieno, Joseph Baloyi, Craig Rosslee, Sebastian Bax, Vincent Sokhela, David Mabeta, Ricardo Mannetti, Mxolisi Mchunu, Tyren Arendse, Tebogo Tsiu, Jonathan Solomons, Thokozani Xaba, David Notoane, Jean-Marc Ithier, Thando Mngomeni
Wits: Wayne Roberts, Tony Coyle, Ryan Hodgskin, Ashley Makhanya, Neil Winstanley, Shaun Mackay, Oscar Mohohlo, Meshack Tsotetsi, Roan Maulgue, Josta Dladla, Lawrence Masegela, Charles Yohane, Alois Bunjira, Ivan Winstanley, Leonard Casner, Gareth Devine, Kagiso Denge, Mpumelelo Gamedze
Kick-off: 6pm
- Santos games remaining: Wits University (home); Bush Bucks (away); AmaZulu (home); Orlando Pirates (home); Ajax Cape Town (away)
- For Hellenic, there are two reasons to win when they take on Sundowns in the second match of the double-header at Green Point stadium.
Victory will ease their relegation plight and it will also be a major boost to neighbours Santos's title aspirations.
Sundowns, beaten 4-1 by Supersport on Sunday, are still one of the chief contenders for the league championship, but another defeat will signal the end of their challenge.
Hellenic go into the match on the back of some good form, having scored 10 goals in their last three games (a 4-3 defeat to Bush Bucks, 4-1 win over Golden Arrows and a 3-2 victory against Swallows).
The intention is clear: to avoid relegation Hellenic will go all out and attack. Hellenic defeated Sundowns 1-0 at Loftus in the first round and they have a great chance of doing so again.
Darrel Smith got the winner in that match and the unorthodox, gangly striker will again play an important role on Wednesday.
Smith is Hellenic's top scorer with seven goals.
Shaheem Bobbs and Moses Malabela are still suspended, while new signing Dan Semake is also unavailable.
Semake is on loan from Sundowns, but according to the terms of his contract he cannot play against his former club.
Sundowns coach Ted Dumitru came under fire from the club's management after the 4-1 defeat by Supersport in Sunday's Pretoria derby. Vice-chairman of Sundowns, Angelo Tsichlas, accused Dumitru of losing concentration and being too concerned with peripheral matters like media interviews and his scathing criticism of the PSL and Safa. Tsichlas said it had shown in Sundowns' recent inconsistent results and the players had also complained about the coach's attitude.
And this dissension in the Sundowns ranks could well work to Hellenic's advantage.
Squads:
Hellenic: Gareth Ormshaw, Jason Barnard, Anton Greyling, George Hummel, Craig Bianchi, Ricardo Katza, Gareth Ncaca, Albert Kometsi, Robert Nauseb, Warren Budde, Patrick Ninigiza, Darrel Smith, Quinton Booysen, Ashraf Hendricks, Noah Chivuta, Edzai Kasinauyo, Vuyo Mere, Abram Nteo, Rodney Petlele
Sundowns: Ronnie Kanalelo, John Tlale, Muisi Ajao, Joas Magolego, Michael Manzini, Fabian McCarthy, Gift Kampamba, Alex Bapela, Joel Masilela, Papi Mbele, Charles Motlohi, Lucky Qaba, Isaac Shai, Mohale Naruseb, Thabang Rammupudu, Sipho Nunens, Alain Amougou, Daniel Mudau, Carlo Scott, Sibongakonke Ndlovu
Kick-off: 8:15pm
- Hellenic games remaining: Sundowns (home); Free State Stars (away); Ajax Cape Town (away); Kaizer Chiefs (away); Ria Stars (home); Classic (away)