Rookies eased into the Premiership

WITH just one Absa Premiership match played on the road in their opening five games in the top flight, rookies Highlands Park might feel the league’s leniency on newly promoted sides could work in their favour.

Ditto for Baroka FC, who earned their ticket to the PSL as outright winners of the National First Division in May, while the Lions of the North made their way up via the playoffs a month later.

It’s only fair that the new boys are given time to adjust to the demands of an even tougher division, and Highlands struck gold when they managed to sidestep an encounter against reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns on August 23 because the Brazilians have CAF Champions League commitments.

They will instead come up against a familiar foe in Baroka three weeks later at the Makhulong Stadium, a fortress of some sort for coach Allan Freese and his men.

Baroka also begin their campaign with a home fixture, against Ajax Cape Town at the (new) Peter Mokaba Stadium, and although they have tricky match-ups following that, being able to play three of their opening five games in their own backyard is a boost.

Another rule that is apparently fashioned to benefit newly promoted sides is that they cannot face all of last season’s top three sides in their opening five matches. But that doesn’t always work in their favour because of revamped squads and coaching changes.

For instance, Highlands will play Kaizer Chiefs, who

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finished fifth in the previous campaign, and SuperSport United, who ended the season in eighth place, in those opening games, and these two teams will undoubtedly be considered to be championship contenders.

Their depth and preparation for the big time will be truly tested.

Wits face an early test of their title-winning credentials with back-to-back matches against local football’s biggest teams.

Gavin Hunt’s team will successively host Chiefs and Orlando Pirates within three days of each other. Last season’s Premiership runners-up open their campaign with a home league match against Amakhosi on August 23, and then host the Buccaneers for an MTN8 quarter-final clash three days later.

The season-opening knockout competition for teams that finished the season in the top eight bracket will see Amakhosi travel to newly formed Cape Town City to kick-start the competition on Friday, August 26.

Chiefs were beaten finalists last season, having lost to Ajax Cape Town, who failed to make the cut. The clash of the round sees the Tshwane derby between Sundowns and SuperSport taking place at Loftus Versfeld. – Sports Reporter