Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have not won the league in nearly 10 years but that can change very soon in the future.
Under new coach Nasreddine Nabi, Amkakhosi appears to have been resurrected. So far, the Soweto giants have won two of their first three Betway Premiership matches this season. Their only loss was against Mamelodi Sundowns last month but they could have earned a draw if their last-minute goal was not ruled out.
Since the inception of the Premier Soccer League(PSL), Kaizer Chiefs have only won the league four times. Their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates have also claimed the league title four times as well which brings us to the main point.
Amakhosi won their first PSL title in 2003/04 after witnessing Orlando Pirates’ league triumph the season before. Although the Buccaneers won the 2000/01 title, the one they won in 2003 was remarkable, which forced Chiefs to make changes.
History suggests Kaizer Chiefs will react if Pirates win the league
The 2004/05 saw the Buccaneers fight it out for the league title with the Glamour Boys winning it by just two points. Both teams will watch Tshwane teams dominate the PSL for the next five years.
In 2011. Pirates won their first league title in eight years under Dutch coach Ruud Krol. The next season, the Buccaneers completed back-to-back league titles for the first time in the PSL era. This promoted a response once again from the Amakhosi management.
Chiefs recruited Bafana Bafana players such as Morgan Gould, Bernard Parker, Tsepo Masilela and Siboniso Gaxa. Under the leadership of Stuart Baxter, Kaizer Chiefs claimed their third league title in 2013 to end Pirates’ two-year reign. After losing the league to Downs in 2014, Baxter and his team reclaimed glory in 2015.
A decade later, the two Soweto giants have not tasted league glory. Mamelodi Sundowns have won seven league titles in a row.
With three matches played in the Betway Premiership, Downs and Bucs occupy the top spots with nine points. Kaizer Chiefs might need Pirates to win the league this time. History has shown that Amakhosi’s reaction to Bucs’ success often leads to glory.
Again, an end of Sundowns‘ dominance can also revive the PSL. Teams like Stellenbosch might also fancy their title chances in the future.
Can Pirates claim the title this season?
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