Coaches in denial will be quick to point out that it is still early days in the Hollywoodbets Third Division campaign to jump to any conclusions – and perhaps rightly so.
However, there is already a pattern developing at the summit of the log as well as at the bottom.
The latter paints a picture that Ocean View, who are pointless after five games, could be strong contendesr for relegation. Needless to say, they have been flirting with danger in the previous seasons as well, but have narrowly survived and could not be so lucky this season.
There are also ominous signs for the newbie CampsBay FC who have already lost four of their five matches following a 0-1 defeat against Silver Spurs on Saturday in Manenberg’s Greens Sports Field.
So too does the Northern Suburbs candidate Trinitarians look a mere shadow of last season’s title-challenging squad following yet another defeat (third) – this time against the newcomer Seaside Spurs who’ll surely be relieved to get the proverbial monkey off its back.
So too will their coastal neighbours FC Hout Bay draw confidence after they surprised JL Zwane during a 4-2 victory at the Hout Bay Sports Complex to get their season up and running.
Following Greenwood’s win in their opening match against another debutant Seaside Spurs, coach Warren Lotters’ Green Machine has gone off the boil a bit with a draw and two defeats condemning them to the 14th position out of 18 teams.
It could also be a very long and challenging season for Premier United coach Peter Kirsten who made the switch from FC Hout Bay to the Hanover Park-based club.. The former Hellenic pro player will acknowledge that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
But it is at the top where pacesetters such as Vasco da Gama, Cape Town City and Matroosfontein are opening a slight gap on the chasing pack.
Andrew Pequeno’s Vasco shot themselves in the foot after they squandered two points at home following a 2-2 draw against Saxon Rovers, after leading the game by 2-0 at one stage.
Rest assured that Pequeno and his troops will all be in attendance when their rivals, City and Matroos, square up (13:00) on Sunday at Malta Park.
Pequeno will be hoping for a draw, but City will be keen to get back to winning ways following their 2-2 midweek draw against Seaside Spurs.
This will be easier said than done as coach Patrick Weel’ Matroos has already shown that they have got what it takes to beat the very best and cannot be taken lightly.
