DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Benni McCarthy’s passion on the touchline is hard not to notice, leading AmaZulu to second consecutive victory. Eric Tinkler showed resistance at home after his side got a red card, managing to get maximum points. Stellies continues their impressive form for the season. Mamelodi Sundowns going for the 5th title in a row, with Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile breaking records. Cameroonian Eva Nga is in beast mode for Chippa, Victor Letsoalo continues to shine for Royal AM, and Kwame Peprah opened his DSTV Premiership account with a brace against Marumo Gallants. Check out our winners and losers from the DSTV Premiership by OptaJabu.

AmaZulu – Winner

For a while, it seemed as if Benni McCarthy was struggling to maintain his reputation as a recently crowned Coach of the Year. A PSL record run of seven consecutive draws certainly didn’t help, with the cloud seeming to be at its darkest on his one-year anniversary at the club, last week. 180 minutes later, AmaZulu’s season and prospects look entirely different. They are up to 3rd on the table and could end the year just as they ended last season – in 2nd if they beat Pirates in their last game this year.

The win against Sundowns was both commendable and perfectly timed. Not only does it provide a template to other teams on how to stop Sundowns, but it also does so during a period where the champions were threatening to open up a 19-point gap atop the league before the turn of the year. Whatever happens in the second half of the season with Sundowns’ point gap, this result will reverberate in the minds of both sets of fans for a long time.

1 – This was the first time in PSL history that AmaZulu won a home league game against Sundowns (D6 L12 before today).

Benni McCarthy – Winner

May was the last time Benni’s side won consecutive league games. The 23 games in between started off as an end-of-season slump, turned into early-season rustiness, but were gradually turning into a mid-season crisis. Yet, Benni may have been a victim of his own success. Despite the tough season they have had, only two AmaZulu sides in PSL history have won more points at this stage of a campaign than the 2021/22 side. And one of those is Benni’s side from last season. As the draws record took center stage, Benni’s in-game changes have been hidden from the spotlight, but they are worth noting and celebrating.

8 – Augustine Mulenga’s goal was the eighth that Benni McCarthy’s side has scored from the bench this season, the most of all sides.

Eric Tinkler – Winner

A goal down at half-time, most teams would have settled for the draw. A goal and a man down at half-time, most teams would have settled on limiting the damage. But Eric Tinkler’s City came back to win against Swallows FC despite facing such difficult odds. They are still ninth on the table and a whole 21 points behind Sundowns but don’t be tricked into thinking this result was meaningless.

10 – City has won 10 points from losing position since Eric Tinkler rejoined the club. Only Pirates (14) have won more points from behind in that time.

Stellies – Winner

A seven-game winless streak came to an end this past weekend. The sensational run from early in the season may be a thing of the past, but the tightness of the race below Sundowns means Stellies are just one point off 2nd place. Their latest win may not have surprised too many:

4 – Since their promotion to the top-flight in 2019, Stellenbosch has won more matches against Baroka than against any other side (4).

Sundowns, Themba Zwane & Peter Shalulile – Winner

Downs gets a brief mention in the Winners List for breaking the 91-point calendar year record, Themba Zwane scoring his 50th league goal for the club, and Peter Shalulile equalling the calendar year record for goals.

Eva Nga – Winner

The Cameroonian is a man in form. He is the first player in Chippa’s top-flight history to score in five consecutive league games. Not only that, He has scored more goals than any other Chippa player since the start of last season (12).

4 – Eva Nga is now the 4th all-time highest scorer for Chippa in the top-flight, behind only Rhulani Manzini, Lerato Manzini, and Andile Mbenyane.

Victor Lestoalo – Winner

In PSL history, Bradley Grobler (7) is the only player to have scored more goals against Kaizer Chiefs than Victor Letsoalo (6).

Kwame Peprah – Winner

The Ghanaian finally found the net for Pirates, and he will be one relieved man. To carry that burden into the New Year would have really played on his mind. Bucs fans will be hoping it is the first of many.

Pirates & Chiefs – Loser

Because they all played twice in the last few days, and they both found a win and a loss, it may be confusing why we have them here. Let’s explain. Firstly, Pirates are losers this week for the 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Sundowns, which means they have lost five times to them this year – the first time this has happened to them against a single PSL opponent. Chiefs are losers for their result against Royal AM, which means they have suffered a double defeat for the first time since 2017/18.

Knox Mutizwa- Loser

Golden Arrows have been awarded more penalties this season than any other side (7), but have also missed more penalties than any other side (3). Mutizwa has been the guilty culprit on two of those occasions, more than any other player.

Baroka – Loser

Results around them mean Baroka still remains three points from safety, but time may be running out. Winless in ten away games now, they are rooted at the bottom of the table, with no signs of life coming from their recent results.

12 – Baroka’s 12 games winless run is the longest of all sides in the league this season.

Swallows – Loser

To lose a league match is forgivable. Every team has done that this season, with Sundowns the latest addition to that list. To lose against ten men is also excusable, depending on circumstances, say if the opposition were leading by a considerate margin before the dismissal. But losing against 10 men, when you have been in the lead for 40 minutes, borders on reckless.