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READ MORE: The 2020/21 PSL Season – Our Predictions
Will TTM be a disaster both on and off the pitch?
Justin Shonga is now on TTM (Photo by Steve Haag / Gallo Images)
TTM has felt all preseason like a team not ready for top-flight action, but they have a chance to prove skeptics right away in the first game of the new PSL season, a fourth MTN8 final against SuperSport United. Masala Mulaudzi, the owner of TTM, has remained defiant that the team will prove their critics wrong, having bought Bidvest Wits’ DStv Premiership status, thereby taking their spot on MTN8. And they have a squad that could compete, if all parties come together, with Justin Shonga and Gustavo Paez, to name just two out of a slew of recruits, no doubt willing to prove the Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs wrong by letting them go. However, the entire project still carries all the warning signs of impending disaster, with a new coach announced this week, with Oupa Manyisa leaving before the season begins, and with too many reports of a lack of professionalism to be unfounded.
Pirates can make a statement with a good performance against CT City
Josef Zinnbauer, Orlando Pirates coach (Pic Sydney Mahlangu / BackpagePix)
Josef Zinnbauer has tried this week to downplay the idea that his team is one of the favorites to lift the DStv Premiership title, just as he continually ruled out his teams’ chances last season, even when they were on a streak. of wins that briefly threatened to challenge Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the table. Last season, there was a sense of realism in the German manager’s comments, with his focus on reviving a team he picked up after a disastrous spell with Rulani Mokwena. This time, however, the Pirates have to be one of the favorites, if not the outright favorite for the title, having brought in a host of big names to add to an already strong team, and Sundowns may need time to adjust to. life under a new technical team, and with Chiefs also under a new coach, and he is currently unable to sign any players. If the Buccaneers can fly out of the box, starting against City at MTN8, they could quickly leave the rest behind them.
How will the city cope without Kermit?
Kermit Erasmus has joined Mamelodi Sundowns (Ryan Wilkisky / BackpagePix)
Speaking of City, John Comitis played an interesting game of denial about Kermit Erasmus who teamed up with Mamelodi Sundowns, but then he did, and Jan Olde Riekerink is faced with the task of building a team without his talismanic striker, who was pretty brilliant in the bio-bubble at the end of last season. The city has brought back Aubrey Ngoma from Mamelodi Sundowns, and if he can find the form he showed in his previous spell on the Cape, then he will add power to the city’s attack, although it may take a little time after a long time in the on the sidelines at Sundowns, and while Ngoma is not a goal poacher in the Erasmus mold. Fagrie Lakay showed flashes of good form towards the end of last season and could also be used as a forward, but it will be fascinating to see City line up against the Pirates.
Khune is back in business, but for how long?
Itumeleng Khune hopes to be Gavin Hunt’s go-to goalkeeper this season. Pic Sydney Mahlangu / BackpagePix
A passport issue for Daniel Akpeyi means Itumeleng Khune looks set to start Sunday in the Kaizer Chiefs MTN8 quarterfinals against Maritzburg United, as he did with the Chiefs in the last two games of last season when Akpeyi had a concussion. At 33, by goalkeeping standards, Khune still has many years in the tank, but many injuries have hampered his career lately, and one has to wonder what form he will be in when the season begins. If this is a Khune in shape, there is no doubt that it will be a huge asset to Gavin Hunt, with his almost telepathic connections to Khama Billiat sure to help the Zimbabwean advance as well. With Chiefs serving a transfer ban, Hunt will have to go with the team that is currently at Naturena and many who have played with Khune for years. Ernst Middendorp, even with Khune’s injuries and Akpeyi in good shape, appeared to underuse the former Bafana captain last season. A good performance from Khune on Sunday could cement his place at the side for some time.
Who really rules the chicken coop at Mamelodi Sundowns?
Manqoba Mngqithi, co-coach of Mamelodi Sundowns (Pic Sydney Mahlangu / BackpagePix)
It’s hard to know what to do with the new training structure at Sundowns. Appointing Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena as joint head coaches makes some sense following Pitso Mosimane’s sudden departure, as they were both alongside Mosimane when Sundowns completed a national treble on the bio-bubble. Continuity is a good idea, especially these days, with a short break between seasons, but there are also valid doubts about Mokwena’s ability as a head coach, given his terrible spell up front at the Orlando Pirates. Sundowns then added more intrigue to the mix by naming Steve Komphela as senior coach, which may be a glorified word for assistant coach, but either way, it will be interesting to see exactly who is yelling instructions from the sideline against Bloemfontein Celtic in Sunday. Only time will tell if this is a case of too many cooks or too many hands doing the job easy.
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