SuperSport could upset usual suspects in PSL title race

IF THE coming SA football season is anywhere as exciting as the last one, fans will be in for a treat.

The riveting last day of the 2010-2011 season is still fresh in the mind, with all of Orlando Pirates, Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs gunning for the title and a goal for or against any of them, at any time, potentially deciding the race.

It wasn't over until the final whistle blew on all three matches, bringing the curtain down on a memorable campaign. Some observers said it was a World Cup-inspired season!

Bookmakers seem to be tipping last season's top three and Mamelodi Sundowns as the quartet to be with again.

Soweto giants Pirates and Chiefs have been priced up 5-2 joint favourites, with Sundowns 7-2 and Ajax 9-2.

Ajax, who made a lot of the running and entered that last day as title favourites, will this season be without their Player of the Season Thulani Serero, who has been snapped up by "mother club" Ajax Amsterdam.

It's a big loss. The SA national coach has not yet heeded The Horse's sound advice to build the team around the young Soweto-born midfielder, but that day is coming.

The Cape Town club will also be without retired goalkeeper Hans Vonk, though former Liverpool man Sander Westerveld should be an able replacement.

There has been talk about former national hero-cum-villain Benni McCarthy joining Ajax, though there is no concrete news as yet.

The European Champions League winner will be 34 next birthday and, though he is reported to have lost weight, might struggle to make an impact. Still, the graduate of Ajax Amsterdam's academy has a good football brain, and could play a useful role coming off the bench.

Sundowns might lose national striker Katlego "Killer" Mphela, who is undergoing a trial at Glasgow Celtic. Sticking out my neck, I reckon the Scottish giants will keep him - their league isn't that strong - and Sundowns will struggle to replace him due to the dearth of quality strikers locally.

Chiefs and Pirates do not seem to have lost any key players and should actually be stronger this time.

The two sides gave a good pre-season account of themselves against pedigreed English visitors Tottenham Hotspur in the Vodacom Challenge. Though Spurs beat Pirates 3-0 in the final, the score flattered the Londoners.

However, Pirates' inability to take their chances again attests to the lack of good striking options available in the league. If any of the top clubs unearth a striker of quality, it could make all the difference in the race for glory.

Last year, Ajax became favourites after being as long as 33-1 in the betting - and almost won it. If you're looking for something similar this term, SuperSport United at 10-1 might be worth investigating.

And previous title winners Santos, who have shortened from 330-1 to 66-1, might also be worth a buck or two.

The season kicks off on Friday August 12 when Santos welcome Moroka Swallows and champions Pirates go to Black Leopards.