DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Check out our winners and losers from the DSTV Premiership by OptaJabu.

Eric Tinkler – Winner

“I’m just happy with the three points but I don’t think we performed well today, to be brutally honest…” – Eric Tinkler

At this stage last season, Eric Tinkler had just joined a Cape Town City side who still hadn’t secured a Top 8 spot. A season later, Tinkler is comfortably in 2nd on the table and can even afford to be discontent following a victory. Much can happen in one year of football, and it’s fair to say good things seem to be happening at City. They are now unbeaten in 12 league matches (W7 D5 since December), their longest run without defeat since they joined the top flight in 2016. Other results on the weekend mean City could seal a CAF spot with just one win in their remaining two games.

It has been a bumpy road toward redemption, but City can point to their form since the beginning of the year as the foundation of their latest revival. They have won more matches and more points than any other side in 2022.

0 – City are the only side yet to taste defeat in the league this year, the longest they have gone from the start of a year without a loss.

Cape Town City Fans – Winner

1 – City were the only team to win a league game this weekend.

Goalkeeper1- Hugo Marques – Winner

Another weekend; another clean sheet for the Portuguese shot-stopper. He is one of the reasons City have been solid defensively this season, and he’s probably started dreaming about the Golden Glove or Goalkeeper of the Season awards when he goes to bed now.

14 – City kept their 14th clean sheet of the season, their most in a single PSL top-flight campaign, while Hugo Marques is the first City keeper to keep 14 clean sheets in a season.

Goalkeeper2- Veli Mothwa – Winner

11 clean sheets last season was remarkable, and Mothwa is showing that he is not just a one-season wonder. He’s gone two better this term and notched his 13th of the campaign.

13 – Veli Mothwa set a new PSL record for clean sheets by an AmaZulu keeper in a top-flight season (13), going past Kalilio Kakonje (12 clean sheets in 2008/09).

Sekhukhune – Winner

​​Sekhukhune have kept 12 clean sheets this season, equalling the PSL top-flight record for clean sheets by a newly-promoted side (also 98/99 Seven Stars & 2000/01 Ria Stars).

The Relegation Race – Winner

Sundowns wrapped up the title with 4 matches to spare, and it looks increasingly likely that the race for CAF places may also be split between Cape Town City and Royal AM. The relegation battle looks the most exciting. With two rounds of matches to play, six points separate the bottom 5 with bottom Baroka (22) still able to catch 12th placed Maritzburg (28) – at least mathematically.

Orlando Pirates – Winner

Pirates became the first PSL team to win a CAF match away to Libyan opposition when they took a 2-0 win away in the Confederation Cup semi this weekend.

18 – Libya is the 18th different African country they’ve won in, more than any other PSL side

The PSL & A Lack Of Goals – Loser

We’ve written about this extensively, and warned of what was coming in the last few months. 2021/22 looks set to be the lowest ever scoring season in PSL history. When goalkeepers (see above) are breaking, setting, and extending all sorts of records, questions turn to the teams trying to score against them. In this case, the verdict is not a good one.

41 & 42 – Marumo 0-0 Arrows and AmaZulu 0-0 Sekhukhune were the 41st & 42nd matches to end goalless this season, extending the new record for 0-0 draws in a PSL season.

Baroka – Loser

They were 1-0 down with 15 minutes to play, and then 2-1 up in injury time. But Baroka contrived to drop two points late on, wasting the chance to strengthen their position in the relegation battle. Time is running out:

0 – Baroka are the only team yet to win away from home this year (2022).

Chiefs Penalty Takers – Loser

For a second time this season, Chiefs won a late penalty against Sundowns. For the second time, they wasted it. Lebo Manyama was the culprit in the 1st leg, Keagan Dolly in the 2nd. The draw leaves Chiefs hoping for a miracle to get back into CAF competitions, although they may have a consolation – they have now qualified for the Top 8 next season.

TS Galaxy – Loser

The only team that failed to get at least one point this weekend.

A Generous SuperSport – Loser

13 – SuperSport have dropped 13 points from winning positions this season, more than any other side. Careless.