Tick-tock!
Time is thinking for Cape Town City’s coach Eric Tinkler to change the team’s fortunes around, or else he’ll run the risk of being shown the exit door. City have had a poor start to the season. They’ve missed out on the MTN8 and Carling Knockout, while their Betway Premiership run is unconvincing.
The Citizens are 13th on the log with eight points for their exploits, winning two games, drawing two and losing after eight games so far. And given the ambitions of the club to finish in the Top 4 and win at least one trophy, that’s surely not the start that Tinkler nor club chairman John Comitis wanted.
They are already trailing the chasing pack by 13 points. A large gap that’d be hard to close in the second half of the season, as teams will be fighting for their respective targets. However, it’s still not late for Tinkler to close the year on a high, and that’s why they’ll have to gun for nothing other than three points when they visit Chippa United.
The Chilli Boys won’t be a walkover, especially in their own backyard in Mdantsane on Saturday night, though. They, too, are fighting for points. Chippa have had an impressive start under Kwanele Kopo and are fifth on the log with 14 points, a whopping six points better than Tinkler’s Citizens.
So, having seen that they are able to put up a gallant fight they’ll want nothing but continuity going into the New Year. Hence, they’ll also know that it’s important to collect points at home.
Three points for the Chilli Boys will not only see them break into the top three, but it will buy them some breathing space from teams such as SuperSport United.
Tuesday work for Matsatsantsa. The grind continues!🔵👊#MatsatsantsaUnified pic.twitter.com/Ccd88PLElO
— SuperSport United FC (@SuperSportFC) December 10, 2024
Meanwhile, SuperSport United are slowly finding their feet in the new season, having racked up a win in their last clash, beating Richards Bay courtesy of a solo goal from returning striker Bradley Grobler.
The veteran forward missed the first part of the season due to a lengthy injury. A feat that saw Hunt frustrated with the number of chances they failed to bury.
With Grobler back, Hunt will be optimistic that they can collect their back-to-back win when they host Magesi in their Betway Premiership clash in Atteridgeville on Saturday night.
Magesi have been suffering from hangover blues since winning the Carling Knockout at the expense of Mamelodi Sundowns, having lost their last two games. But perhaps, the fact that they are facing another Tshwane giant in SuperSport will ignite another zeal to cause an upset and get back to winning ways in the league.
Meanwhile, Magesi’s neighbours Polokwane City have been riding a winning wave in the league. They are third on the log after an impressive start.
Coach Phuti Mohafe’s troops are at the back of an impressive victory as they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 last Sunday, causing the second upset of the season after beating Sundowns at home.
Having shown that they’ve got giant slaying performances in their arsenal, they’ll have to work towards being even more menacing when they meet the so-called small teams. And they’d be no better place to start than when they host Marumo Gallants at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.
Gallants, though, will not be walkovers. Apart from formerly being based in Polokwane before their recent return to the top-flight, they are high on confidence.
Coach Dan “Dance” Malesela’s charges beat Magesi 3-1 in their last league clash at home. A feat that saw them climb to 10th on the log.