Pirates have unwanted record in 2023-24 DStv Premiership season

The DStv Premiership returns this weekend with seven fixtures as clubs hit the restart button following the Fifa international window.

Only the Tshwane duo of SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns will not be in action, with the latter involved in a Caf Champions League quarterfinal against Young Africans from Tanzania.

It is therefore a chance for the chasing pack, albeit some way back in the distance, to make ground on Sundowns at the top of the table and cut into their 13-point lead.
But to do that, they will have to take the lead in their fixtures … and hold on for the win.

That has been a challenge for some teams this campaign, including one very big name who currently sits second on the table.

Orlando Pirates are joint-top of the list of clubs who have given up points from winning positions this season. They have led in 14 of their DStv Premiership matches, and gone on to win nine of those.

That means they have dropped points five times, with three of those games ending in draws (against Chippa United, Polokwane City and Cape Town Spurs) and two in defeat (against SuperSport United and Stellenbosch FC). They led 2-0 against Stellies and lost 3-2.

They would have hoped to win all three of those drawn games. If you add up the points they have dropped, 12, and add that to their total this season, they would be within a point of Sundowns on the table.

WASTEFUL CAPE TOWN SPURS

Only Cape Town Spurs have dropped points in as many games, drawing twice and losing three times. That means they have given up 15 points from winning positions this term. Had they held on, they would be well clear of the relegation zone.

Coach Gavin Hunt will be tearing his hair out as SuperSport dropped points in four games (10 points in total), while AmaZulu have also let a lead slip four times (and lost nine points).

There are six teams that have let a lead slip only once this term, though for some of them, being ahead in matches is rare.

One of the teams to have often been able to hold onto leads is Kaizer Chiefs. They have led on nine occasions and gone on to win eight of those games. The only blemish was the recent Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates where they were 1-0 up and lost 3-2.  

That still makes them statistically the best team in the league when ahead in matches this season.

Royal AM, Polokwane City, Chippa United, Moroka Swallows and Richards Bay are the only teams to have given up a winning advantage only once this season. All went on to lose one game.
Richards Bay are the team that has led the fewest times, going ahead on only four occasions so far and winning three of those games.

Sundowns have dropped four points from winning positions this campaign, leading in 15 matches but ending up with draws in two of those against SuperSport and Pirates.

THE NUMBER OF TIMES CLUBS HAVE DROPPED POINTS FROM WINNING POSITIONS
2023-24 DStv Premiership

1. Orlando Pirates - 5
2. Cape Town Spurs - 5
3. SuperSport United - 4
4. AmaZulu - 4
5. Stellenbosch FC - 3
6. Cape Town City - 3
7. Sekhukhune United - 3
8. Lamontville Golden Arrows - 3
9. Mamelodi Sundowns - 2
10. TS Galaxy - 2
11. Kaizer Chiefs - 1
12. Royal AM - 1
13. Polokwane City - 1
14. Chippa United - 1
15. Moroka Swallows - 1
16. Richards Bay - 1