What was on the Christmas wish-list of each of the 16 DStv Premiership clubs? We take a guess …
AMAZULU
Some consistency. They have four wins and four defeats in their 15 league games this season, with seven draws. They have battled to get a run of form going, and every time they look like they might, there is a set-back.
CAPE TOWN CITY
Second place. Let’s face it, no-one is fighting Mamelodi Sundowns for first, but City do have it within them to finish runners-up, especially after their club record six wins in a row earlier this campaign.
CAPE TOWN SPURS
A win. Just any type of victory. A scrappy 1-0 with an own goal will do. After one victory in their first 15 games of the season, they are rooted to the foot of the table.
CHIPPA UNITED
Home form. Chippa have won only eight of their 54 home league games since the start of the 2020/21 season. It is bizarre how poor they are in front of their own fans. No wonder they want to move to East London.
KAZIER CHIEFS
A striker. AmaKhosi forwards have only scored 10 goals from open play since the start of last season. They continue to rely on goals from midfield, but 15 in 15 games this season is a poor return. They would be so much better with a competent number nine.
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS
To stop the rot. Seven defeats in a row is a joint club record dating back tom their relegation campaign in 2013/14. They only lost one of their first nine league games this season, but the wheels have well and truly come off. The African Cup of Nations break cannot come quickly enough for coach Mabhuti Khenyeza … if he survives it.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Some rest. What else can they possibly want; they already have everything? But by the time the African Cup of Nations break starts on January 1, they will have played 31 games in under four months in all competitions. That is pretty insane.
MOROKA SWALLOWS
Swallows’ form has dropped off in recent weeks, maybe they need a thesaurus to understand coach Steve Komphela? Whatever it is, two points from a possible 15 and one goal in five games is a poor return.
ORLANDO PIRATES
A Champions League re-do. The Buccaneers fought so hard to get into the Champions League last season and then duffed it badly this term, losing to Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy in a shock result. The latter are a tricky side to beat, but over two legs Pirates should have far too much quality for them. A huge disappointment.
POLOKWANE CITY
To hold on to Oswin Appollis. The playmaker has been superb for the Limpopo club with both goals and assists this season and netted two more against Chippa United on Saturday. That took his tally of goals to five. It is form that earned him a Bafana Bafana call-up and it seems unlikely he will still be at Polokwane next season, no matter what happens with their campaign.
RICHARDS BAY
Goals. They have scored 10 in 15 league games this season, the worst attack in the topflight. They are not going to pull away from the relegation zone unless they can start scoring more regularly.
ROYAL AM
A transfer. Their FIFA ban over the non-payment of monies owed to former striker Samir Nurkovic means they cannot sign players and their squad looks stale and unbalanced. They badly need a refresh, but it seems unlikely they will get one in January. And if they can sign players, would they be able to afford too? Money woes dog the team at present.
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED
A Confederation Cup quarterfinal place. They probably need to win their final two games in their pool, Home to top side RS Berkane from Morocco and away at bottom side Diables Noir in the Congo. But they will take heart from Marumo Gallants’ run to the semifinals last year.
STELLENBOSCH FC
To stop other clubs raiding their squad. Stellenbosch have sold so much of their top talent in recent years, it is a credit to coach Steve Barker that they remain so competitive and keep improving. But he will want a time where they keep hold of that talent if they are to start pushing for league honours.
SUPERSPORT UNITED
A new contract for Shandre Campbell. The 18-year-old’s two goals against Orlando Pirates this past weekend will have grown his reputation further. But we already know he is a top talent and that means you just know Sundowns are sniffing. If SuperSport can get him signed up to a long-term contract then they can at least command a big fee when the inevitable happens.
TS GALAXY
Away goals. Galaxy’s two they scored against Golden Arrows on Saturday were their first on the road this season at the seventh attempt! It was remarkable they were kept scoreless in their first six games on the road. Coach Sead Ramovic will hope they have broken the dam walls down and it will become a flood in the second half of the season.
