Several major clubs in the Premier Soccer League are living off past glories. Who can awaken these sleeping giants of the local game? Asks Dylan Appolis.
KAIZER CHIEFS
AmaKhosi ended the 2023/24 campaign in 10th place in the DStv Premiership, their worst- ever finish in the South African top flight, under the guidance of interim coach Cavin Johnson.
The Glamour Boys failed to secure a place in the MTN8 for this coming season and concluded their campaign having made it to the MTN8 semi-finals, Carling Knockout Cup last 16 and the second round of the Nedbank Cup.
Much was expected from AmaKhosi when they bolstered their squad with 10 new signings, including Pule Mmodi, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Edson Castillo, Given Msimango, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Ranga Chivaviro and Efmamjjasond González, as well as promoting Mfundo Vilakazi from the reserve team.
Chiefs failed to hit their mark during the last campaign, although they have shown glimpses of their quality but were let down by inconsistent performances.
However, AmaKhosi will look to rectify their mistakes from the past season as they prepare to come back strong in the new campaign with a new coach and several new players.
AMAZULU
Usuthu managed to improve on the previous campaign in which they finished 12th by ending one place higher in the league standings in the 2023/24 season.
AmaZulu themselves expected to be one of the contenders for the league title, especially after bringing in 18 new signings to the club, namely Augustine Mulenga, Taariq Fielies, Victor Letsoalo and Ben Motshwari.
But things did not go as planned for their Spanish coach Pablo Franco Martín, as they finished outside the top eight and only made it to the quarterfinal stage of the Nedbank Cup and the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup.
AmaZulu could potentially become a force to be reckoned with in the new season after Martín completed his first full season with the club as the coach heads into his second season looking to drastically improve their performance and become a more consistent team.
MOROKA SWALLOWS (NOW MARUMO GALLANTS)
The Dube Birds had a disappointing 2023/24 campaign in which they finished in 14th place in the league standings.
Swallows’ bad form continued on all domestic fronts after they were eliminated from the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup in the first round, while making the last 16 in the Nedbank Cup, their highest points in a below- par campaign.
The Soweto giants made 23 signings during the season, including Gabadinho Mhango, Andile Jali, Tshegofatso Mabasa and Bongani Sam, in the hopes of improving on their eighthplace finish in the league, but they could not live up to the hype and narrowly missed out on getting relegated amid cash-flow issues.
Those forced a fire sale of players in January and an almost new-look squad for the second half of the season. After securing their PSL status for the upcoming campaign, Swallows will aim to put the past season behind them and focus on rediscovering their form and fight for silverware.
SUPERSPORT UNITED & CAPE TOWN CITY
It’s been a number of years since the likes of SuperSport United and Cape Town City last lifted a piece of silverware.
SuperSport have not won a trophy since the 2019 MTN8 final in which they beat Highlands Park 1-0 thanks to a 46th-minute goal by Bradley Grobler at the Orlando Stadium.
City’s trophy drought dates back a season longer with their last piece of silverware being the 2018 MTN8 trophy when they beat SuperSport in a penalty shootout at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Both Matsatsantsa and the Citizens will need quality signings to bulk up their squad and go the distance if they’re competing on all fronts, with the teams already integrating young, capable players into their side alongside a mix of experienced players and seasoned veterans.
