Not three but four teams are duking it out, each with equally compelling reasons to believe they will lift the DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] trophy come May.
𝐃𝐒𝐓𝐕 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐊𝐈 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐆 | 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝟐𝟐
— Asidlali (@Asidlali) March 18, 2024
👆@Masandawana maintained their place at the top of the DStv Diski Challenge table.
🍇@StellenboschFC keep the second spot, two points behind Sundowns.
☠️ @orlandopirates dropped two points, they remain third and… pic.twitter.com/8ssInjrrnY
Over the past years, there have been a handful of neck-and-neck title races in the DDC that went down to the wire. This season could be another interesting run where plenty of twists and turns are expected in the last eight matches of the campaign.
After 22 outings, there’s an ongoing four-way slugfest in the DDC. Mamelodi Sundowns are currently leading the table with 50 points, Stellenbosch FC who have put up a staunch fight against the favourites, are second with 48 points.
Orlando Pirates, who are hoping it will be third time lucky are third with 45 points and the other Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, who have never won the league, are fourth with 41 points.
This past weekend Sundowns continued their fine form, making it eight matches without a defeat when they thumped Cape Town Spurs 4-0 to go five points clear on Saturday.
However, on Sunday Stellenbosch also humbled Royal AM beating them 4-0 to reduce the gap to two points.
Interestingly, in the remaining eight games, Sundowns are still going to play against Stellenbosch FC in what might be a title decider.
In Soweto, it was not a good weekend for both Pirates and Chiefs as they each dropped two valuable points. Pirates were held to a shock goalless draw by TS Galaxy at Rand Stadium while Amakhosi drew 1-1 with Golden Arrows.
This was the second consecutive week where Pirates dropped points. Last weekend they lost 2-1 to Spurs and dropped from the top to second spot in the table.
This weekend they dropped again, one more spot to third place.
And this is now starting to be a norm for Pirates to do well when the season starts, only to succumb towards the end.
In the 2021-22 season, the Buccaneers lost the league towards the end of the season to Stellenbosch.
Last season again, Pirates were the leaders for the better half of the campaign, but SuperSport United's eventual triumph felt and was inevitable.
No matter how assured a team can be in the DDC, the Jaws theme is always playing in the background.
Mathematically, anything could still happen within the top four teams in the DDC in the remaining eight games.
There are still 24 points to fight for.