Betway Premiership halfway review: Orlando Pirates lead as 'Big 3' title race heats up

The halfway mark has been reached in the Betway Premiership, with all 16 teams having played 15 matches this season, giving them a clearer indication of where they stand in relation to their targets and expectations.

The coming weeks leading up to the final day of the season are set to test teams’ character as they fight tooth and nail to reach their respective promised lands.

Here, Independent Media's football reporter Mihlali Baleka reviews the first half of the league season, breaking it down into three key factors.

The 'Big 3' title race

The traditional 'Big 3' in South African football – Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs – are all in contention for the league title at the halfway mark. Pirates lead the pack with 35 points, with Sundowns second on 32, while Chiefs sit third on 30.

Pirates enjoyed a fine start to the season, winning the first two trophies on offer – the MTN8 and Carling Knockout – while also finishing top of the log in December. As such, they are expected to carry this momentum throughout the season, challenge strongly for the league title, and mount a serious push in the Nedbank Cup.

Despite Pirates’ dominance, Sundowns remain the kings of the land.

They have won the last eight league titles in a row, showing their ability to turn up the heat during crunch periods. However, they have been somewhat off-colour this season, dropping points unnecessarily, while coach Miguel Cardoso has fallen out of favour with some supporters.

Chiefs, meanwhile, have not played the most appealing brand of football, but they have still managed to get the job done through narrow victories. Amakhosi’s strength has been their rock-solid defence, which has compensated for their attacking frailties; they have often failed to convert chances up front despite creating the most scoring opportunities in the league.

The clean sheet kings

While Pirates and Sundowns have collected points through scoring goals and winning matches to reach their current positions on the standings, defensive solidity has also been crucial. Keeping clean sheets has been paramount, something Sipho Chaine and Brandon Petersen have mastered.

Chaine and Petersen have kept 11 clean sheets each in 15 league matches this season, conceding goals in just four games. Their returns and hard work between the sticks augur well for their respective title ambitions, echoing legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous assertion, “defence wins titles, and attack wins games.”

The duo’s impressive form also places them in good stead ahead of the Fifa World Cup finals in June.

Should Chaine maintain his current form, he is likely to retain his No 2 spot in the national team, while continued top performances from Petersen could force coach Hugo Broos to include him in the final squad, potentially at the expense of Ricardo Goss.

Slow revolving door

The PSL top flight is one of the biggest leagues on the continent, making coaching a high-pressure role, with results expected in every match.

Incredibly, there has been a low rate of coach departures this season. Steve Barker stepped down from his role at Stellenbosch to join Simba SC in Tanzania, Nasreddine Nabi was dismissed by Chiefs following issues of mistrust with management, Chippa United parted ways with both Sinethemba Badela and Luc Eymael, while Gavin Hunt fell out of favour with his bosses at Durban City.

With fixtures set to come thick and fast and expectations rising as teams chase their targets, a number of casualties are likely to emerge along the way, particularly among the 12 coaches who began the season with their respective clubs.