'Pirates and Chiefs not in league of their own'

THE Premier League is not a two-horse race, according to the coaches of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Log leaders Chiefs drew 1-1 with second-placed Pirates at Soccer City on Saturday.

The Absa Premiership season still has one match to go before reaching the halfway stage, but with both Chiefs and Pirates in fine form - and Mamelodi Sundowns, Supersport United, Ajax Cape Town and Moroka Swallows in the doldrums - the competition does seem to favour the two Sowetan giants.

But both Pirates coach Roger de Sa and Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter expect a strong challenge from the teams lower down the log in the second half of the season.

"It is a bit early to say it will be a Chiefs/Pirates battle," De Sa said.

"I've said before I think it's going to be a season that's totally divided because of this huge break.

"Anything can happen in the second half and I expect teams like Sundowns and Supersport to turn the corner.

"Ja, our two teams have been the pace-setters, but the other teams are right behind us."

Baxter, whose team have lost just one match of 14, said he did not welcome the Nations Cup break.

"I think it will be interesting to see if teams that have disappointed a bit can turn the corner playing without pressure. They'll welcome the break - I won't. I just want to keep kicking on."

He said the break meant he had to focus one eye on the end of the season and the other on the present.