2 weeks Ago
It is not often that Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have all won their opening day fixtures in the league since the birth of the PSL back in August 1996. So much blossoms when Amakhosi, the Buccaneers and the Yellow Nation are all happy as has been the case after round one in the league. Chiefs – whose fan base remains huge despite their recent struggles – carried the torch over the weekend with a 2-1 win over Marumo Gallants before a full house in Bloemfontein.
The Khosi Nation suddenly have their voices back after disappearing in suffering last season. Sundowns were second with a routine league win on Tuesday, before Pirates were forced to dig deep for their 2-1 win over Chippa United on Wednesday night. For all the 28 years that the domestic league has run under the PSL banner, it’s only happened on four occasions before that all of the Big Three won their first league matches of a new season.
The first time was in the 2004/05 season when Pirates won 1-0 against Jomo Cosmos, Chiefs hammered Dynamos 4-1 and Sundowns recorded a 2-0 victory at Santos. Chiefs ended that season as champions. The next occasion was the 2010/11 campaign – Bucs won 2-1 at Vasco da Gama, the Tshwane giants were 2-0 winners over Moroka Swallows, while the Glamour Boys recorded a 2-0 triumph against Golden Arrows.
Pirates lifted the league title. Then at the start of 2012/13 all the three won – Ezimnyama Ngenkani getting past Abafana Bes'thende with a 2-1 scoreline, Chiefs humiliating AmaZulu FC 6-0 and The Brazilians scrapping past Chippa with a 1-0 win. Amakhosi were champions.
Then for the 2019/20 season all three started with wins again – Sundowns with a 2-0 victory over SuperSport, Pirates recording a 3-1 win against Bloemfontein Celtic, while Chiefs overcame Highlands Park 3-2. The Glamour Boys handed the title to Sundowns on the last day. Based on what has happened in the past after the opening day, the league title is likely to again be won by one of the Big Three this season.
.
