PSL

The PSL Table Based On Points Per Game... Komphela Leads

2 Nov 16, 2018 - 04:35 pm

By Soccer Laduma

After the 0-0 draw between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates on Saturday, the result left the Buccaneers on top of the ABSA Premiership log going into the international break. That clash saw the two front-runners for the title facing off, and Sundowns looked the happier to take a point.

Meanwhile, last weekend saw Bloemfontein Celtic beat Bidvest Wits 2-1 in a thoroughly impressive display.

Read: Celtic Leapfrog Downs To Third Spot

However, due to Sundowns’ early season CAF Champions League commitments, as well as Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Free State Stars all having busy league schedules in order to ease congestion when their own continental campaigns start later this month, those three teams have played more matches thus far.

The Sea Robbers and Amakhosi have both played three games more than Masandawana, whilst Free State Stars have played five games more than Maritzburg United (14 to 9).

If we order the league table by Points per Game, rather than total points, Sundowns have actually taken 1.8 points per game so far, with Pirates taking less, at 1.77.

The effective leaders of the ABSA Premiership are in fact Bloemfontein Celtic, as Steve Komphela’s men have taken 2 points per game, with his former club, Kaizer Chiefs averaging just 1.38 points per game thus far. Pirates have only the fifth most points-per-game in the ABSA Premiership at this stage.

Of course, sometimes points in the bank are better than games in hand, so Bucs’ extra 5 points at this juncture over Sundowns in the title race may prove more valuable than Downs’ three spare matches. Free State Stars may be sitting in 9th spot but with so many extra games played, the club is in a false position, and are actually 11th in terms of average points per game, prompting the club to mutually terminate coach Luc Eymael’s contract.

More: Eymael Parts Ways With Stars

AmaZulu find themselves in bottom place but were docked six points and have actually gained 10 points and would have been tied 10th in terms of points per game.

More: AmaZulu Docked Six Points, New Look Table Revealed

Team	Games	Points	Points Per Game
Bloemfontein Celtic	10	20	2
Bidvest Wits	11	20	1.82
Mamelodi Sundowns	10	18	1.8
Supersport United	10	18	1.8
Orlando Pirates	13	23	1.77
Polokwane City	11	18	1.64
Kaizer Chiefs	13	18	1.38
Cape Town City	10	13	1.3
Highlands Park	10	12	1.2
Golden Arrows	12	12	1
AmaZulu	10	10	1
Free State Stars	14	13	0.93
Chippa United	10	9	0.9
Maritzburg United	9	8	0.89
Baroka	12	10	0.83
Black Leopards	11	9	0.82