DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Mamelodi Sundowns is 12 points clear at the top of the table, Peter Shalulile’s scoring boots are on making him the top goals score of the league with 12 goals. Arthur Zwane yet again proves to be optimistic for Amakhosi, with a 2-0 win after missing 2 matches of the Dstv Prem. Orlando Pirates has broken the curse of draws with a 2-0 victory against TS Galaxy. Check out our winners and losers from the DSTV Premiership by OptaJabu.

Sundowns – Winner

Sundowns were victorious in the Tshwane derby as they beat a weakened Supersport side 1-0 on Saturday night. The victory extended their lead at the top of the table, but more importantly extended their dominance in the local derby. In the last 17 meetings between the sides, Downs have lost just one, drawing four but winning the other 13. This was the 52nd meeting overall between the sides, and Downs have won exactly 50% of those (26).

26 – Since the PSL was established in 1996, no other side has suffered defeat to Sundowns more than Supersport (26, level with Bloem Celtic).

Downs Coaching Trio – Winner

The win brought the coaching closer to the all-time PSL calendar-year points record. In PSL top-flight history, only 1999 Sundowns (91 points under Ted Dumitru & Paul Dolezar) have won more points in a calendar year than 2021 Sundowns (86). The new Sundowns coaches are competing against old Sundowns coaches in the league, except there are some records held by Kaizer Chiefs that will take some beating. This is one of them:

Because Swallows have struggled this season, it is easy to downplay their achievements from last season. If it were not for a record-breaking run of draws at the end, Swallows 2020/21 would easily have been the best newly promoted side in PSL history.

37 – Sundowns equaled the halfway record for points in the 30-game era (37, set by Kaizer Chiefs in 2014/15 who also won 11 and drew 4 of their opening 15 games).

Peter Shalulile – Winner

Understandably, the spotlight early on in the season has been shone on Sundowns’ defence, who kept a record-equalling 10 consecutive clean sheets (a record 13 overall including last season) in the early months of the campaign. Yet, Peter Shalulile has also been building a stellar campaign upfront. He scored his 12th goal this past weekend, and we’re only at the halfway stage. He’s already broken into Sundown’s Top 10 scoring charts, and the target is shifting towards Collins Mbesuma’s record.

1 – In the 30-game PSL era, only Chis Katongo (15 in 2006/7) has scored more goals at the halfway stage of a campaign than Shalulile (12, like Bradley Grobler last season).

Arthur Zwane – Winner

It has been a complicated month for Kaizer Chiefs, whose Covid-19 outbreak forced them to miss two league games already this month. That alone would throw the spanner in the works for even the biggest of teams. In the absence of Stuart Baxter, Arthur Zwane was at the helm this past Sunday, and he led Chiefs to one of their best victories of the season.

49 – Chiefs have won more games in December (49) than any other month, and have also won a higher proportion of games in December than any other month (53%).

Orlando Pirates – Winner

A win, a clean sheet, and 2nd position on the log (for 24 hours). It’s been a yo-yo season for the Buccaneers, but nothing screams “stability” than a regulation 2-0 win over a team that was starting to find some form under a new coach (TS Galaxy). Pirates’ record at the halfway stage last season was W6 D7 L2 F17 A11, and this season it’s W5 D8 L2 F17 A12. Indeed they had more points last season (25) than now (23), but the margins are thin. One thing that stands out is their clean sheet record:

7 – Only once in the last eight seasons (8 in 2017/18) have Pirates kept more clean sheets at the halfway stage of a season than the seven they have now.

Supersport United – Winner

They lost, but it was not for a lack of trying. Decimated by the Covid-19 outbreak in camp, Supersport fielded a team with two debutants and several Multichoice Diski Challenge players. They are on the Winners List mostly because the make-shift side pushed Sundowns very close.

Baroka – Loser

The 34 points Baroka secured last season was their joint-best total since they became a top-flight club. 10th position was also their highest ever finish. After five seasons in the highest division, this was supposed to be the time to progress beyond the perennial also-ran’s tag. And it actually started well. At the end of Matchday 1, Baroka was top of the table.

After Matchday 14, they are bottom.

Because of its slightly higher altitude, the Limpopo climate is supposed to provide a particular advantage to home teams in the province. That hasn’t been the case for them this year, as they have won only three home games – against relegation-elect Black Leopards, newly-formed Marumo Gallants on Matchday 1, and newly-promoted Sekhukhune in September.

10 – Baroka has failed to win any of their last ten league games (D4 L6), currently the longest winless run of all top-flight sides.

Only Swallows (12 games) have been on a longer winless run all campaign.

AmaZulu- Loser

Usuthu shouldn’t be here too often, but they seem to be making too many appearances on the Losers list. They failed to win just one of the first 13 matches where they scored first under Benni. They have failed to win 4 of the last seven from such a position (all drawn).

1 – AmaZulu has drawn 11 of their 16 matches so far in the 2021/22 season. No team in PSL history has drawn more at this stage of a top-flight campaign (Santos 05/06 also D11).

Sekhukhune – Loser

Back-to-back defeats for the first time this season lands Babina Noko here. With 23 points at the halfway stage, they have probably done enough to be safe at the end of this campaign. Yet, they risk having a nightmarish second half like Swallows last season. Sundowns (11) are still the only team with more wins than McDonald Makhubedu’s side (7), but they came up short this weekend, thanks to some errors on their part.

1 – This was the first time Sekhukhune conceded two non-penalty goals in a league match all season.