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2023/24 DStv Premiership: Mid-Season Review

With the DStv Premiership currently on a break to make space for the Africa Cup of Nations, we take a club-by-club look at how this season has played out thus far. From the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns to bottom side Cape Town Spurs.
Keagan Dolly of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Bandile Shandu of Orlando Pirates
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

With the DStv Premiership currently on a break to make space for the Africa Cup of Nations, we take a club-by-club look at how this season has played out thus far. From the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns to bottom side Cape Town Spurs.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Mamelodi Sundowns

Masandawana started the season in unbelievable fashion, winning all their eleven opening fixtures. They are currently at the top of the table with 35 points.

Rulani Mokwena’s charges are yet to taste defeat having played two draws and winning their remaining league games. They look to be on the right path towards winning their seventh consecutive DStv Premiership title.

Despite the busy schedule that they have had, participating in the CAF Champions League, MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup as well as the inaugural African Football League which they recently won, the Tshwane side seem to be unfazed and determined to bag more trophies.

Cape Town City

Eric Tinkler’s side had a rocky start to this year’s campaign but have managed to turn things around are currently number two on the log, six points behind Mamelodi Sundowns.

They are one of probably two clubs who could challenge for the league title this season, although doing so would require an almighty slip up from Sundowns.

Striker Khanyisa Mayo is currently the league’s top goal scorer, tied on seven goals with Lucas Ribeiro Costa. It’ll be interesting to see if Mayo can continue bang them in when the league resumes after the 25-year-old was left out of the Bafana Bafana side by Hugo Broos. 

SuperSport United

Amatsantsantsa have had a good start to the season having spent most of the time in the top half of the league, and their iffy form on the continent doesn’t seem to be affecting their form in the Republic.

They are currently third on the log, level on points with second-placed Cape Town City. The performances of Ricardo Goss, Grant Margeman and Siyand Xulu have earned them spots in Hugo Broos’ provisionals Bafana Bafana squad. However, Margeman could not make it to the final 23-man squad that will be going to Ivory Coast.

Shandre Campbell who recently scored a brace in his side’s 3-1 win against Orlando Pirates, Terrence Dzvukamanja and Bradley Grobler have also played a prominent role in the team’s success this season and are expected to be amongst the top goal scorers at the end of the season.

Stellenbosch FC

The inaugural Carling Knockout Cup champions have enjoyed a remarkable campaign thus far. They reached the semi-finals of the MTN8, won the Carling Cup and are currently fourth in the league.

They have not tasted defeat in their last eleven matches. Despite losing some of their key players at the beginning of the season, Steve Barker’s youthful squad are amongst one of the best-performing teams so far.

Jayden Adams, Devin Titus, Andre De Jong, Iqraam Rayners, Deano Van Rooyen and Fawaaz Basadien have been instrumental in the club’s success. Continental qualification must be the target for the team from the Winelands. 

Orlando Pirates

Pirates began their campaign by losing 1-0 to Stellenbosch FC but managed to regroup and demolish Royal AM 4-2 in their next match. They then went on to win their second consecutive MTN8 by defeating Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties.

The Buccaneers have suffered a dip in form lately having suffered two back-to-back losses and conceded six goals in those matches. Coach Jose Riveiro will be aiming to use this break to regroup and get the team back to its winning way.

This mid-season dip is especially frustrating for Pirates fans who would have hoped to push Sundowns all the way in the league. They’re some way off the pace now, though. 

Kaizer Chiefs

Amakhosi restructured their technical team axing Head Coach Molefi Ntseki and moving Arthur Zwane back to the development team after several poor results. These led to several unsavoury incidents which saw fans throwing objects onto the pitch in frustation.

The introduction of interim coach Cavin Johnson seems to be paying off as he has won three, played one draw and lost two out of the six league games that he has been in charge. Chiefs are now fifth on the log and have been in good touch of late. 

Amazulu

With Pablo Franco Martin at the helm, Usuthu had a poor start to the season but have turned things around of late. They have the second fewest number of defeats and have managed to climb to the top half of the table.

The Durban side are currently on a three-match unbeaten run. They closed off the year with a resounding 3-0 victory against Royal AM with their on-form striker Augustine Chidi Kwem netting a brace. I am eager to see if they can ride this wave and push into the continental qualification spots.

TS Galaxy

The Rockets made their mark when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 but things took a turn as recorded a series of losses. They spent most of this campaign in the bottom half of the table but closed the year off on a high note recording two consecutive victories against Golden Arrows as well as Chippa United.

The signing of Samir Nurkovic has been a masterstroke with the Serbian scoring crucial goals for the Mpumalanga-based side. They also enjoyed a superb run to the final of the Carling Knockout and look well-positioned to keep climbing the table in the second half of the season.

Polokwane City

Rise and Shine started the season with a loss away to Cape Town City, but they bounced back by claiming two victories against Stellenbosch and Cape Town Spurs.

After the departure of their then coach Lehlohonolo Seema, things took a turn for the worst as they suffered back-to-back losses, but they seem to have regrouped as they managed to hold Mamelodi Sundowns to a goalless draw in their last encounter.

We look to see if they can get back to their winning ways and climb the table. Having said that, they do seem to be pretty safe from relegation and should, at the very least, secure another season in the DStv Premiership. 

Golden Arrows

Arrows started the season well and found themselves among the top three in the early throes of the season. However, the wheels well and truly came off after the departure of former co-coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi.

They have recorded seven consecutive defeats and dropped to 10th. It will not come as a surprise if they announce a new head coach to replace Mabhuti Khenyeza before the season resumes.

Moroka Swallows

Troubled Moroka Swallows are currently eleventh on the log and have not recorded a win in their past eight league matches. They’re also dealing with issues off the pitch, after the side were unable to honour their last two fixtures against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows due to financial issues.

With the current situation, the team seems to be heading straight for relegation as they keep on moving down to the drop zone.

Sekhukhune United

After consistently underperforming, Babina Noko parted ways with then coach Brandon Truter and replaced him with Lehlohonolo Seema who is yet to make his mark on the team. The threat of relegation still looms for the Gauteng side.

They’re also competing in the CAF Confed Cup and battling to fight effectively on two fronts. Coach Seema is facing a difficult task, however, they’re five points clear of the danger zone at the moment and must regroup during this break.

Chippa United

The season has not been favourable to the Chilli boys so far, they have lost six games and played six draws. Chippa were promising at the start of the season after managing to hold Kaizer Chiefs and then high-flying Orlando Pirates to draws but failed to build from that. The pressure is on coach Morgan Mammila to turn things around.

Royal AM

Thwihli Thwahla had a terrible start to the season but seemed to be regrouping after getting crucial victories over TS Galaxy and Chippa United but could not stay on the winning lane.

They have spent most of their time at the bottom five positions thus far and if coach John Maduka does not come up with a winning formula during this break, the team may be axed.

Complicating matters for Maduka was club chairman Andile Mpisane’s appearance in the recent 3-0 against AmaZulu. Whether Maduka picked Mpisane based on training performances or was instructed to do so remains unclear. What is clear is that Mpisane is most certainly not up the standard you’d expect in the DStv Premiership.

It’ll be interesting to see whether or not he cracks the nod again this season.

Richards Bay

The Natal Rich Boyz have endured a rocky start to the season only recording three wins and suffering 14 losses. This is the second-highest number of losses that have been recorded this season.

They recently sacked their head coach Kaitano Tembo and replaced him with interim coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi who got off to a winning start after demolishing Supersport United 3-1.

It’ll be interesting to see if they can continue winning and move away from the relegation zone. The team showed great potential when they fought all the way to the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup, eliminating Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates along the way.

Their star striker Justice Figuareido has just returned from injury and should be of great assistance in the battle out of the relegation zone.

Cape Town Spurs

Spurs started their campaign by recording eight consecutive losses which led to the firing of coach Shaun Bartlett. They then announced Ernst Middendorp as their new coach, but he is so far yet to turn the tide.

He has voiced out frustrations about the team’s current squad not being Premiership material and is expected to make some changes and bring in new players during the January transfer window.

With the experience that Middendorp possesses, having rescued a number of teams from relegation, we look to see if he can move Spurs from the bottom of the log. He has a mountain of a task ahead. 

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