Pretenders threaten usual PSL title suspects

JOHANNESBURG – A new South African season opens tomorrow with the usual cast of favourites expected to dominate but several other pretenders threatening in the wings.

For the last decade, the professional game in the country has been dominated by Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns but other clubs are threatening to break their stranglehold on the league championship. The awarding of the 2010 World Cup finals to South Africa has proved a major boost to the professional game in the country, now awash with sponsorship and television money.Clubs are now able to make forays into the international transfer market, evidenced by the purchase of two Venezuelan internationals by Sundowns last month.Chiefs clinched the championship on the last day of last season in May from arch rivals Pirates but have since lost key personnel, which has led many to write off their chances of a third successive title.But Chiefs have sold key marksman Collins Mbesuma to English premier league side Portsmouth.The Zambian striker’s 35 goals last season proved the catalyst for the club’s storming late run in defence of their title and also their success in the League Cup.Pirates, by contrast, have beefed up their side after missing out on the championship despite enjoying a nine-point lead four months from the finish.Cup winners SuperSport United led a growing list of ambitious pretenders.The Pretoria club were fourth last season as well as winning the national cup.Bloemfontein Celtic and Moroka Swallows are another two of those with an outside chance but have yet to win a championship title in the professional era.Wednesday’s season-opening match in Cape Town pits two unpredictable teams in Ajax Cape Town and Jomo Cosmos.- Nampa-ReutersThe awarding of the 2010 World Cup finals to South Africa has proved a major boost to the professional game in the country, now awash with sponsorship and television money.Clubs are now able to make forays into the international transfer market, evidenced by the purchase of two Venezuelan internationals by Sundowns last month.Chiefs clinched the championship on the last day of last season in May from arch rivals Pirates but have since lost key personnel, which has led many to write off their chances of a third successive title.But Chiefs have sold key marksman Collins Mbesuma to English premier league side Portsmouth.The Zambian striker’s 35 goals last season proved the catalyst for the club’s storming late run in defence of their title and also their success in the League Cup.Pirates, by contrast, have beefed up their side after missing out on the championship despite enjoying a nine-point lead four months from the finish.Cup winners SuperSport United led a growing list of ambitious pretenders.The Pretoria club were fourth last season as well as winning the national cup.Bloemfontein Celtic and Moroka Swallows are another two of those with an outside chance but have yet to win a championship title in the professional era.Wednesday’s season-opening match in Cape Town pits two unpredictable teams in Ajax Cape Town and Jomo Cosmos.- Nampa-Reuters