When it comes to deciding who should be crowned Absa Premiership champions for the 2019/20 season under these unprecedented situations we currently find ourselves in, there is no perfect solution but there could be a few fair solutions.
First and foremost, let’s simplify the biggest argument in South African soccer right now: there are 16 teams in the Absa Premiership but this specific topic concerns only two of the 16: leaders Kaizer Chiefs and close second Mamelodi Sundowns.
One of the multiple fair ways in deciding the destination of this season’s SA football top prize is the points per game (PPG) system, which this writer saw from an article from sport writer Baden Gillion.
According to Gillion, should the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Absa Premiership top brass reach an agreement to apply the system, the final standings between the top two clubs would be as follows: 1. Kaizer Chiefs (PPG – 2.18) Points – 65.452. Mamelodi Sundowns (PPG – 2.09) Points – 62.85.
In this instance, Amakhosi would be crowned champions. As the log currently shows, Chiefs lead with 48 points from 22 outings, four points clear of Downs (44 points from 21 outings). Amakhosi also hold an eight-goal advantage in the goals difference column of the log – an important advantage to carry should things get tight at the business end of the campaign.
Another fair (and factual) way to decide whether the trophy should stay in Pretoria or return to Naturena is to simply look at the log standings (as explained above) when the last matches were played.
It’s an instance which favours Chiefs, not to mention that when the two sides faced off on October 27 during Sundowns’ home game, Chiefs triumphed with a 2-0 scoreline courtesy of a brace from striker Samir Nurkovic.
Remaining games: Kaizer Chiefs: Bidvest Wits (home), Polokwane City FC, Bloemfontein Celtic (both away); Stellenbosch FC, Sundowns (both home); Wits (away), Chippa United (home), Baroka FC (away)Mamelodi Sundowns: Orlando Pirates (home), Highlands Park, Maritzburg United (both away); Cape Town City (away), Golden Arrows (home), Chiefs (away), Baroka FC (home), Polokwane FC (away), Black Leopards (home).
As the fixtures depict, both teams have an equally tough schedule and with both sets of teams desperate to win it all, one would imagine that both Chiefs and Sundowns would win the majority of their remaining meetings which would mean the table would more-or-less look the same with all said and done.
With FIFA handing a July 31 deadline to footballing governing bodies around the world, it’s over to the South African football hierarchy to make the tough decision: brace yourselves, this one is destined to cause a lot of controversy and interest. – @SabeloBoksburg
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