Lamontville Golden Arrows’ co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi summed up the general sentiment in SA football at the launch of the 2022-23 DStv Premiership season. Even though he didn’t say them in name, it was clear to everyone who he was talking about when he said Arrows are looking to play a small part in destabilising the rampant machine led by “Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego”.
In the bible the trio were thrown into fire, but in the Premiership the Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena and Steve Komphela is the one that has been heating things up. Sundowns have won the last five league titles and are strong favourites to make it six in a row. The question going into the season, which the Brazilians open on Friday against Cape Town City is, can they be stopped? We look at the 16 Premiership teams to get an answer.
AmaZulu
Usuthu failed to build on their storming showing in the 2020-21 campaign, where they finished second behind Mamelodi Sundowns. This led to the sacking of Benni McCarthy, who was replaced by Brandon Truter. The club has been busy in the transfer window, bolstering their squad with quality that should make them compete for honours. But in Truter, they have a coach who is more familiar with putting out fires than setting the scene alight. Usuthu will flirt with the chasing pack but will fall out of the race when it matters as their technical team and the club still don’t have championship pedigree.
Last season’s finish: 7
Predicted finish this season: 6
Cape Town City
The Citizens are made in the image of Eric Tinkler. They are gritty, no-nonsense and one of the toughest teams to beat in the country but haven’t been as strong in front of goal. That’s why most of their signings have been attacking players. Without a reliable striker, they will find it hard to keep up with Sundowns. Add continental football to the mix, a space where Tinkler has experience in going far, and they will find it hard to do well on both fronts. But they can get away with it in the domestically because teams tend to struggle for consistency.
Last season’s finish: 2
Predicted finish this season: 3
Chippa United
The Chilli Boys barely survived last season due to Chippa Mpengesi’s trigger-happy sensibilities. The owner is Chippa’s worst enemy in how he runs the Chilli Boys. In Daine Klate, they have a coach for the future and student of the game who can help the club stamp its imprint in the Eastern Cape. But how long will he be at the helm? If Mpengesi continues his pattern, the club will be in the relegation dogfight.
Last season’s finish: 14
Predicted finish this season: 14
Golden Arrows
Abafana Bes’thende have made a bold decision to back Mabhuti Khenyeza and Vilakazi to lead the team. The two know the club inside out, having been raised at Arrows as players. They will bring back the enterprising football Arrows are famous for and promote talent from solid development structures. But because they don’t invest much in strengthening the team, they will continue to be a mid-table outfit that nurtures rough diamonds for clubs with deeper pockets.
Last season’s finish: 9
Predicted finish this season: 10
Kaizer Chiefs
This is going to be a defining season for Amakhosi. The SA cup kings have forgotten how to win and have fallen behind so far that they no longer have the aura of invincibility that made them a force in their glory days. Arthur Zwane has the tough job of not only bringing silverware but also building a team that can compete for a long time. He has the ability to do that, but his challenge will be that he inherits the burden of the past seven seasons’ failures, which means there’s no room for patience. The club will be competitive but are still off the pace to win a championship.
Last season’s finish: 5
Predicted finish this season: 2
Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns are in a league of their own. They won last season without breaking a sweat. There was never a point where their grip on the league was in doubt. And with the signings they have made they will rule SA football for years to come. The standards at the club are so high that even winning the league is not enough. Sundowns’ supporters want them to blow the competition out of the water and be African champions again. Their sights on the Caf Champions League are what sets them apart. They aim very high, so that when they fall, they fall into domestic league glory.
Last season’s finish: 1
Predicted finish this season: 1
Maritzburg United
The Team of Choice are an erratic outfit. If they aren’t dazzling with the young players they promote, a good number from the KwaZulu-Natal capital, then they are fighting relegation. It’s a rollercoaster ride the club’s faithful are now used to. With supporters back at full capacity, Harry Gwala Stadium could return to being a slaughterhouse where Maritzburg are tough to beat. Add John Maduka to the mix and United have what it takes to sneak into the top eight. Maduka did wonders at Royal AM last season with a squad that was hastily arranged. Before that, he had built a strong unit at Bloemfontein Celtic under trying circumstances.
Last season’s finish: 12
Predicted finish this season: 8
Marumo Gallants
Gallants’ only major change in the transfer market was replacing Dan Malesela with 32-year-old Romain Folz. While the club has to be commended for not falling into the trap of recycling coaches, their administrative side will be key in where they finish. There are already rumours that they placed Folz’s assistant on suspension weeks before the start of the season. The club did well last season, finishing 10th and reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup. They have the potential to be a banana peel, that is if they don’t get into their own way.
Last season’s finish: 10
Predicted finish this season: 13
Orlando Pirates
Pirates caused a stir when they roped in little-known Jose Riveiro. The Spanish coach is respected for what he did in Finland, but at Pirates the club don’t only want to win but also do so playing an enterprising brand of football. A lot of coaches have struggled to find that balance. Recently, Bucs have not only struggled for league supremacy but also been guilty of dull football. They have offloaded a number of players in preparation for this new start. They still don’t have the edge needed to eclipse Sundowns, but they will be competitive.
Last season’s finish: 6
Predicted finish this season: 4
Richards Bay
The KZN outfit has finally reached the promised land. They were dealt a curveball last season when Royal AM refused to be a part of the play-offs, turning what should be a three-team contest into a straight shoot-out between Chippa United and the Natal Rich Boys. They learnt from that ordeal, and won the First Division outright in 2021-22. They will find the step up challenging at first but have enough grit and determination to survive. Premiership football means a lot to the club and the deteriorating town they represent.
Last season’s finish: won the GladAfrica Championship
Predicted finish this season: 15
Royal AM
Thwihli Thwahla were the surprise package of last season. After assembling a chaotic squad, having to combine two teams and ideologies into one just before the start of the season, they were seen by many as relegation candidates. But the calm John Maduka managed to insulate his players from the chaos. There’s also chaos ahead of the start of this season with the drama surrounding the club’s CEO Sinky Mnisi, believed to have fallen out with the club’s management. And with three coaches at the helm in Khabo Zondo, Dan Malesela and Abram Nteo, steering this troubled ship into stable waters will be challenging. They have the talent, but the boardroom drama could hamper their progress.
Last season’s finish: 3
Predicted finish this season: 11
Sekhukhune United
The club has made so many changes that captain Linda Mntambo was given the armband before kicking a ball in a match. Sekhukhune signed 16 players and have a new coach. It’s a lot to deal with, as they have to find a competitive combination in a short space of time. They will start slow and, if they don’t find their groove in time, could be drawn into the relegation dogfight. Kaitano Tembo will make them a tough team to beat, but in his last days at SuperSport United he also found winning tough.
Last season’s finish: 11
Predicted finish this season: 12
Stellenbosch FC
Stellies had one of their best seasons in the last campaign. It’s a reflection on the club that their fourth place finish largely went unnoticed. That’s the kind of the team they are, working without fanfare and attention. The team is in a rebuilding phase after losing Ashley du Preez and Zitha Kwinika to Kaizer Chiefs and having also released a number of experienced campaigners. The fact that they have no pressure to emulate what they did last season means Steve Barker has time to build the team with the aim of again being a top four competitor later.
Last season’s finish: 4
Predicted finish this season: 7
SuperSport United
Gavin Hunt has joined a completely different SuperSport to the one he joined in 2007, which he led to three successive league titles from 2008 to 2010. That team were cup specialists under Pitso Mosimane but had struggled in the league. They had experience and pedigree, and he took them to the next level. This time he inherits a team littered with inexperience after its star players were scavenged by crosstown rivals Sundowns. The good news is Hunt is not afraid of throwing young players in the deep end, so the club’s youth brigade will grow. The bad news is success will take time as the team needs to go through the hard knocks before they can even think about winning the league.
Last season’s finish: 8
Predicted finish this season: 5
Swallows FC
Swallows were woeful last season, winning four matches, the lowest win rate in the league. They were lucky to survive in the playoffs. And without strengthening their team, they are strong contenders for automatic relegation. Dylan Kerr might bring stubbornness to teams he coaches, but without any dramatic changes this Swallows outfit is a lost cause. They reached the top flight by being pushed by the wave of restoring pride to a fallen giant. But when they stepped into the big boys’ league, they failed to raise their game, which is why they are strong favourites for automatic relegation.
Last season’s finish: 15
Predicted finish this season: 16
TS Galaxy
The Rockets had a challenging 2021-22. They looked destined to get relegated and when they roped in Sead Ramovic, who had no PSL experience, the writing was on the wall. But they somehow managed to claw their way from danger. The signing of Sibusiso Vilakazi and Xola Mlambo has added quality and experience. But it’s not enough for them to be a force. They will continue to be among the basement dwellers, but will have enough firepower to stave off relegation.
Last season’s finish: 13
Predicted finish this season: 9
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