AS IMPRESSIVE as it would be for South African football if both Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates made it to the CAF Champions League final, this accomplishment could pose a significant scheduling challenge for the PSL.
As things stand, the custodians of the country’s professional football must be scratching their heads as they seek ways to ensure that a trouble-ridden season ends on time. Traditionally, the final two or three matches of the campaign are played simultaneously to avoid any cries of 'unfair advantage' in the battles for the championship or to avoid relegation.
The controversy surrounding Royal AM—which resulted in the KwaZulu-Natal team being suspended mid-season and ultimately ejected because of monetary issues involving both FIFA and SARS—has created complications. It has caused an uneven schedule, leaving some teams to have played 25 games while others have only managed 20.
Additionally, cancellations resulting from bad weather or insufficient lighting conditions have proven unproductive, causing teams like Pirates and Golden Arrows to fall considerably behind in the total number of games played.
The Buccaneers' situation has become even more complex due to their involvement in continental soccer. Some of their league games were rescheduled because they came before CAF Champions League encounters. However, surprisingly, this consideration was not afforded to Sundowns.
This has deprived us of an equitable Betway Premiership matchup, as the Brazilian teams seem to be strolling toward the championship due to their significant point advantage. However, the truth is that these teams have participated in more fixtures—should the Pirates secure victories in their outstanding matches, they would trail by merely three points.
Following the nullification of the Royal AM fixtures, teams will now compete in 28 games instead. Mamelodi Sundowns currently stand at 22 matches and hold a nine-point advantage over Orlando Pirates, who have only completed 20 matches so far.
Although Sundowns' upcoming fixtures against Richards Bay at home on April 30th, followed by a match with Mamelodi Sundownes on May 17th also at home, along with an away game versus Cape Town City on May 4th, are all set, uncertainty lingers around their remaining three games.
The current title holders are set to face Chippa United on May 24, which also marks the date for the first leg of the CAF Champions League final. If Sundowns manage to beat Al Ahly this Friday, then the local match would have to be rescheduled.
Next up are the rearranged fixtures against Chippa United and Stellenbosch FC, originally postponed earlier in the season and now needing fresh scheduling.
Pirates encounter an even tougher scenario, as their previous encounters with Golden Arrows, Magesi, and SuperSport United have not yet been included in the schedule. Similar to Sundowns, they too are scheduled to play against AmaZulu on 24 May, but this game might get rescheduled if José Riveiro’s team beats Pyramids FC on Friday.
The fixed matches for Pirates, which are set to proceed according to plan, include facing Sekhukhune United at their home ground on April 30th, then participating in the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs on May 3rd, followed by a game with Arrows on May 6th, and wrapping up this series of games versus TS Galaxy on May 17th.
If the PSL aims to conclude the season by May 24 and mandates that teams play their last two games simultaneously (with an exception due to the reduced number of 15 clubs), they might utilize the midweek slots on May 13-14 and May 20-21.
For pirates, the initial schedule would have them playing just days following the Nedbank Cup final, where they will face off against Chiefs. The subsequent fixtures come perilously near to the date of the first leg of the Champions League final—especially tricky should only one team advance and need to head to Egypt. However, if both teams qualify for this stage, there won’t be significant distance involved, potentially easing some logistical challenges.