The PSL log: As things stand ahead of the Absa Premiership restart

With the Premier Soccer League set to return in just a few short weeks, we take a look at how things stand on the PSL Log ahead of the restart.

How things stand on the PSL log

Kaizer Chiefs have led the league since early in the season but sport a slender four-point lead over Mamelodi Sundowns, with Pitso Mosimane’s side holding a game in hand.

Mosimane might be cursing his club’s success as Sundowns face the prospect of playing up to 11 matches over the course of six weeks. They have nine matches left in their league campaign and are among the Nedbank Cup semi-finalists.

Sundowns pay the price of success

Sundowns have proven themselves strong finishers to the campaign over the last two seasons in winning back-to-back titles but the nature of the rest of the season doesn’t seem set up in their favour.

The top three spots on the PSL Log secure teams continental football with the top two going into the Caf Champions League and third-place secures a spot in the Caf Confederations Cup.

SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits are still in the title race. This despite SuperSport’s coach Kaitano Tembo ruling his team out of the race just before the season was suspended.

Wits also have nine league matches to play, but unlike Sundowns who are set up for years of success, their club has no future after the franchise was sold. This came as a gut punch to coach Gavin Hunt and it is unclear how the team will finish their campaign.

Maritzburg United are flying high in fifth on the PSL log and are mathematically in the title race but would be forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal after a season of overachieving. Eric Tinkler will need to motivate his charges to press towards continental qualification.

The entire lower half of the table and even seventh-placed Golden Arrows remain at risk of being drawn into the relegation battle. 

Highlands Park, Bloemfontein Celtic, Cape Town City and Stellenbosch FC are all teams who could press for a top-eight finish with good results but could be in trouble if the points don’t flow.

Black Leopards are bottom and very much favourite to face automatic relegation after their fourth head coach of the season resigned just days before the season was to resume.

Chippa United, Polokwane City and Baroka FC are all in familiar territory hovering just above the danger zone.

Amazulu occupy 15th place which carries the fate of the Promotion – Relegation Playoff.

The PSL log before 11 August restart

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Kaizer Chiefs	22	15	3	4	40	17	+23	48
2	Mamelodi Sundowns	21	13	5	3	29	15	+14	44
3	SuperSport United	24	11	7	6	34	21	+13	40
4	Orlando Pirates	23	11	7	5	35	26	+9	40
5	Maritzburg United	24	10	9	5	23	17	+6	39
6	Bidvest Wits	21	11	5	5	25	17	+8	38
7	Golden Arrows	23	8	8	7	21	26	−5	32
8	Highlands Park	24	8	7	9	26	31	−5	31
9	Bloemfontein Celtic	23	7	7	9	33	33	0	28
10	Cape Town City	23	6	9	8	30	32	−2	27
11	Stellenbosch	24	7	6	11	21	30	−9	27
12	Chippa United	24	6	8	10	15	23	−8	26
13	Baroka FC	24	6	5	13	15	21	−6	23
14	Polokwane City	24	7	2	15	21	32	−11	23
15	AmaZulu FC	24	6	5	13	14	27	−13	23
16	Black Leopards	24	5	5	14	21	36	−15	20