DEAR FATHER CHRISTMAS...

WHAT IS ON THE CHRISTMAS WISH LIST OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL PERSONALITIES AND CLUBS THIS YEAR?

- Nick Said

IRVIN KHOZA PSL CHAIRMAN

All Khoza wants is for Mamelodi Sundowns to stop spending money, making his league a one-sided contest that is bad for broadcasters and sponsors, with no-one able to hang on to their coat-tails. Affected is Khoza’s own club, Orlando Pirates, who finished runners-up to Sundowns three times in the past six years.

STEVE KOMPHELA MOROKA SWALLOWS COACH

This season marks 20 years since Komphela first started coaching in the South African top flight and he has yet to win a piece of silverware as the main man. He won plenty while ‘senior coach’ at Mamelodi Sundowns, but all he will want for this Christmas is a trophy of his own for the mantlepiece. Maybe the Nedbank Cup? Komphela has certainly improved Moroka Swallows this season, so it is not out of the realms of possibility.

ORLANDO PIRATES 

Another go at the CAF Champions League after they royally stuffed up their opportunity in 2023/24. Pirates went out to Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy in the second round of qualifying, though they had high hopes of lifting the trophy this year. To not even make the group stages is a major embarrassment they will quickly want to forget.

CAPE TOWN SPURS 

A miracle. Can you ask Santa for that? They need to try everything they can after the start to the season they had, with eight defeats in a row in the league making them immediate relegation favourites on their return to the top flight. On the plus side, they are a better side than that.

VICTOR GOMES SAFA REFEREES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN