Even if Kaizer Chiefs win their final match of the season against Polokwane City on Saturday, they may still finish outside the top on the Betway Premiership log, and that’s just not good enough.
The Soweto Giants, even though they are a ‘team in transition’, should not be finishing worse than eighth given their extensive resources.
Mamelodi Sundowns recently won their eighth league title in a row, yet Chiefs remain the most popular team in South Africa.
In fact, Sundowns are the richest club in Africa but cannot eclipse Amakhosi in the popularity stakes.
Kaizer Chiefs Boast 40 Million Fans but needed 10 Years to Break Trophy Drought
According to Meta AI, Chiefs have over 40 million fans, while Sundowns have just over 10 million. Fellow Soweto Giants Orlando Pirates are third with around eight million.
Popularity, however, doesn’t win championships, and that is certainly true in the case of Chiefs.
Their Nedbank Cup victory in the final over Pirates earlier this month was their first piece of silverware in a decade, and again that’s not befitting of such a highly-financed club.
On Saturday in their match starting at 3pm, even with a victory over Polokwane, Chiefs could still be left scratching their heads if they don’t make the lucrative top eight.
Chiefs are currently ninth in the standings with 31 points. Polokwane are seventh with 33 points, and AmaZulu are sixth with 34 points. Chippa United occupy the coveted eighth position, on the same point tally as Chiefs but ahead by one on goal difference.
Behind Chiefs, Marumo Gallants are 10th also with 31 points but a much inferior goal difference.
Richards Bay in 11th have 30 points, Magesi are 12th on 29 points but have two games remaining. Golden Arrows also have two games remaining with their 27 points, and SuperSport United down in 14th also have two matches left with their 26 points.
The permutations are plenty then, as SuperSport are even in with a chance of finishing ahead of Chiefs.
@Michael_Sherman
Sport
