The indomitable Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (FC) welcomes out-of-sorts Kaizer Chiefs FC in a league duel this afternoon – Sunday April 25. These are the biggest and finest clubs to strut their stuff in South African football high stakes. They command a huge following across the country. However, fans are still prohibited in the country’s stadiums due to the Covid-19 global outbreak.
Sunday | April 25, 2021
The last time this fixture took place was in October 2020 and Mamelodi Sundowns trashed Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the first round of the Dstv Premiership.
Today, they meet again in a Dstv Premiership league match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria at 15:00.
Sundowns are in scintillating form having played 21 league matches without a loss. They have won 13 and drew 8 matches and are on top of the log with 47 points. Second to them with 44 points is Amazulu FC, but they [Amazulu] have seen out 3 more games than Sundowns. Affectionately known as The Brazilians, Sundowns’ unbeaten run in the league places them among the potential league contenders for the 2020/2021 Dstv Premiership.
The same can not be said about their guests whose record is less impressive this season. Besides, Kaizer Chiefs lost 4 and won 1 in their last 5 league encounters with the Pretoria giants.
So much has been said and written about Sundowns’ back-to-back dominance in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). And their success is continuing with little hindrance. It is also easy to pick-out key players like Themba Zwane, Gaston Sirino and Peter Shalulile among other shining stars. But it is difficult to do the same with their lukewarm opponents today. Who would have thought?
Facing the firing Sundowns this Sunday will be one of the toughest fixtures for the underwhelming Chiefs troops yet. It comes at a time where they desperately need more points in the remaining games. Nobody expects them to disgrace themselves. Beyond any question, this should be a great game.
In spite of that, it is evident that Amakhosi are under pressure coming into this league game. Worse still, Chiefs have managed a meagre 5 wins out of the possible 22 games they have played so far. They lost 7 and drew 10 in the current season. The Soweto behemoth [Kaizer Chiefs] lie in an unfamiliar 11th position on the league table with 25 points. Is the ugliness of it all yet to unravel?
There are only 9 games for Sundowns and 8 for Chiefs left to wrap up the season and declare the 2020/2021 Dstv Premiership champions. Should Sundowns beat Chiefs, they will extend the lead, leaving their chasers demoralised. Though a draw will not have the same effect, it will extend the gap nonetheless.
On that note, given the gap between them in the league standings, there is nothing much at stake for both clubs except the bragging rights associated with big clubs. Be that as it may, this is a top-class match in the PSL in South Africa.
Chiefs can make things interesting in the league and delay Sundowns’ apparent premature celebrations by whipping them – their hosts. Thus, giving other clubs vying for the title a slight window opportunity and hope to keep chasing.
While this afternoon’s top-dogs clash brings The Brazilians closer to the throne, it may do little to advance Amakhosi’s ambitions. Even so, the worst outcome in this game may confine and sink them further into the doldrums.
It is a stark contrast between the potential title chasers and those seemingly fighting for their berth in the SA top-flight football. Although today’s result may not impact much on Sundowns position and title prospects, for Chiefs, whichever way it goes, it will mean everything.
With all the current Covid-19 regulations in place regarding football, how will the two flamboyant class acts fare in a barren stadium without their avid supporters egging them on?
Will Kaizer Chiefs come out guns blazing and end the Mamelodi Sundowns spellbinding streak? or will the latter inflict more pain on an already festering (Amakhosi) wound?
As the famed adage goes: the final whistle will tell.