Kaizer Chiefs will not be awarded the Premiership title

The Premier Soccer League have made it very clear that Kaizer Chiefs will not be handed the top-flight title and a season cancellation is not on the cards.

Kaizer Chiefs have to earn the title

Samir Nurkovic of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Abel Mabaso of Orlando Pirates during the 2019 Telkom Knockout quarter final match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, on 2 November 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs will have to earn the title with the remaining matches of the season set to be played come hell or high water.

Premier Soccer League (PSL) executive member Stan Matthews said this week that the Absa Premiership would not follow in the footsteps of their Belgian Pro League counterparts and cancel the season.

Matthews said that the PSL and SAFA were more likely to push back the start or even cancel the 2020/21 before they would consider calling off the current campaign.

The PSL season will be finished

“We would rather not have a new season altogether than leaving this one. Whatever happens, the current season will be completed even if it means that we will play until December,” Matthews told the Daily Sun.

Bradley Grobler of Supersport United challenged by Daniel Cardoso and Siphosakhe Ntiya Ntiya of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 24 August 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

What works in Belgium won’t work in SA

The big difference between South Africa and Belgium is that the Jupiler Pro League had just one round of matches remaining and Percy Tau’s Club Brugge were already guaranteed title winners. The decision to cancel the Belgian League will be ratified later this month (April 2020).

In the English Premier League, Liverpool are runaway leaders but also are not mathematically guaranteed which has led to some opposing the Reds being handed their first top-flight title in 30 years. Like the PSL it seems that the Premier League are hell-bent on finishing the current season come whatever may.

Willard Katsande of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 12 January 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs lead the league but only sport a four-point advantage over Mamelodi Sundowns who have a game in hand on Amakhosi. With Pitso Mosimane’s team chasing a hat-trick of Premiership titles a decision to award Chiefs the trophy would not go down well at Chloorkop.