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'The pack' closes in on Ajax
20/12/2007 15:49 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Like a hungry pack of wolves eyeing prospective prey, an assortment of teams in the Premier League title race are closing in on Ajax Cape Town as the current log leaders give some indication of faltering from what has till now been a confident , incisive stride.
Ajax have failed to win any of their last four games, only gleaning two points from somewhat fortuitous draws against Platinum Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns, while going down to Orlando Pirates and Santos.
And, in the process, a seemingly runaway lead has been trimmed to no more than a two-point advantage over Free State Stars and Wits University, a three-point edge over Moroka Swallows and Bloemfontein Celtic and four points ahead of Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United.
So, instead of going into the mid-season recess with a first Premier League title beckoning invitingly for the Cape Town club, the championship race has opened up.
Ajax play the dangerous, if unpredictable Golden Arrows at Athlone Stadium on Saturday night needing a victory to ensure retaining their top place as the season goes into a seven-week break as a result of the festive season holidays and the African Nations Cup tournament.
But there is a plethora of other games over the weekend with an important bearing on the title race, not least of which is the clash between in-form teams Wits University and Moroka Swallows at Bidvest Stadium on Friday night.
Decline in form
And the current man-of-the-moment in the PSL right now, The Birds' prolific-scoring Zambian international, James Chamanga, will be the focus of attention after accumulating 10 goals in Swallows' last three matches.
Promoted Free State Stars' refreshing challenge could be tested to the limit by Mamelodi Sundowns at Goble Park in Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon, despite the startling decline in form of the defending champions.
And on Saturday night, SuperSport United face Bloemfontein Celtic in another significant clash for what looms as the most open and unpredictable PSL championship battle in years.
- SAPA
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