DStv Premiership clubs’ wishlist for 2022/23

As teams begin to return for pre-season training, minds can turn to the 2022/23 DStv Premiership and what the goals and ambitions of all the clubs will be as they try to knock Mamelodi Sundowns off their perch.

SuperSport.com assesses wishes of each of the 16 sides for the coming campaign.

AMAZULU: The hope that the huge squad overhaul the club has embarked on does not take too long to bed down and that the ‘new look’ side can gel quickly in the opening weeks of the season.

CAPE TOWN CITY: That their first ever foray into CAF Champions League football will not stretch their already small squad too thin and become a massive distraction from domestic matters.

CHIPPA UNITED: A home win! Chippa won just once on their own patch last season (1-0 vs Stellenbosch FC in April), and have just a single home league victory in their last 18 matches.

KAIZER CHIEFS: That local is lekker. Many at the club will be hoping beyond hope that new coach Arthur Zwane is successful, having been part of the set-up at Naturena for the last 22 years as a player and coach within their structures. Oh, and a trophy after seven years of waiting ...

LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS: A tightening of the defence. Golden Arrows are great going forward, among the best in the league, but they are equally shaky at the back and no topflight team conceded more than their 40 goals in the last campaign.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS: What more could they possibly need? Maybe only for their south Americans to stay fit, this has been a real concern in recent years. And for new Ethiopian forward Abubeker Nassir to hit the ground running.

MARITZBURG UNITED: To hold onto their best players, both in this window and the January transfer period. Every season they seem to lose two of three of their top stars and have to start rebuilding for the new campaign.

MARUMO GALLANTS: Stability in the coaching department, they yet again start a new season with fresh technical team. They will hope Frenchman Romain Folz lasts longer than his compatriot Sebastien Migne did at the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

ORLANDO PIRATES: That they can get their forwards firing. Despite an embarrassment of riches up front in the last few seasons, they still largely struggle to score goals. They had 34 in 30 league games last season, a little over one per game … and a full 22 less than Mamelodi Sundowns.

RICHARDS BAY: Survival. That is it. Cement their place in the topflight this season and build from there. It will be a maiden campaign in the big league for many of their players.

ROYAL AM: No more controversies. The club, largely through their own actions, have been involved in too many in recent times. Just quietly go about their business and build on their excellent third-place finish in the league last season. That would eb perfect.

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED: Goals. Their 21 scored last season was the lowest of any club in the topflight and were it not for their excellent start to the season, they would have been relegated.

STELLENBOSCH FC: The ability to finish off games. Stellies tend to dominate the opening half of games and look the real deal, but then go into their shell in the second period and all too often they have thrown away valuable points. They had 14 draws last season but finished just two points off second place.

SUPERSPORT UNITED: More quality young players from their academy. The club have already said they will not enter the transfer market and rely on their development for players, and having basically sold all of their best players in the last 12 months, need the youngsters to step up.

SWALLOWS FC: A win in the first few games to try and instill some confidence. Swallows only managed four in their 30 regular season games in 2021/22, the lowest in the top division. Even relegated Baroka managed six! If they make a winless start to the campaign, those old doubts will return.

TS GALAXY: The ability to turn their performances into points. Too often last season they looked really good in games and still lost. They might point to bad luck, but if it keeps on happening … on the balance of play, they certainly deserved more points.