During this past week, the Absa Premiership took a somewhat unexpected turn, with Kaizer Chiefs having an advantage over Mamelodi Sundowns in the title race, only to capitulate on the final day of the season.
There was all to play for, for every team – a few Top Eight spots were up for grabs, there was the battle to avoid the play-offs, with Polokwane City all but relegated, but all eyes were on how the league title race would pan out, with Amakhosi having a better goal difference to Downs – both on 56 points. It’s now history that a 1-1 draw against Baroka FC proved costly for Ernst Middendorp’s men, with the Tshwane giants running out 3-0 winners against Black Leopards.
Cape Town City beat SuperSport United 1-0 to claim Q4 honours and cement their place in the top half of the table, while Bidvest Wits bid Absa Premiership football goodbye with a 3-1 victory over Rise and Shine. Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, ensured a place in the next instalment of the CAF Confederation Cup after beating Stellenbosch FC 1-0 via the boot of joint-top scorer in the league, Gabadinho Mhango.
Bloemfontein Celtic squeezed into the Top Eight after getting the better of Maritzburg United with a 3-1 scoreline, with Eric Tinkler’s men having tasted defeat three days earlier, against the Buccaneers.
AmaZulu’s 1-1 draw against Highlands Park proved crucial in the end, as the Durban side evaded a place in the play-offs, while the Tembisa-based outfit’s goal was scored by none other than Peter Shalulile, who will share the Golden boot prize money with Mhango. In the end, though, the biggest news of the weekend is that Mamelodi Sundowns are the 2019/20 Absa Premiership champions!
With that brief summary of the weekend’s results, have a go at selecting your Team of the Week and see how close you get to the official Soccer Laduma selection.
