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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In every ecosystem there is a hierarchy. There are predators and there are prey. In soccer the same is true. Except, in South African soccer the past few years have seen Mamelodi Sundowns feast alone in the Premiership, while other would-be predators have been left scavenging for scraps.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the new league season set to start on 14 September, Sundowns are once again heavy favourites to clinch the league marathon – for the eighth time in a row. The last time a team that is not Sundowns won the local league was when Gavin Hunt led the now defunct Bidvest Wits to overall victory in 2017.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cape Town City owner John Comitis said recently that in the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) ecosystem it is important that Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs each win the league in the near future. After all, the teams are by far the most supported in the country – backed by millions in South Africa and beyond.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2336233\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TL_1894344.jpg\" alt=\"Pirates Chiefs Comitis\" width=\"1829\" height=\"1099\" /> <em>Cape Town City owner John Comitis in Cape Town on 1 August 2022. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the pair of Soweto foes have had to take a back seat and watch in admiration as Masandawana continuously demonstrate that they have mastered the art of winning the league marathon.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last season, Sundowns showed they had perfected this craft as they cruised to the Premiership title, losing just one of their 30 games (ironically to Comitis’s City) on the way to a PSL points record haul with 73 to the 50 that second-placed Pirates and Stellenbosch in third accumulated. </span>\r\n<h4><b>It’s just business</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If I’m standing at the executive level and I’m looking at the product without being emotional about my own club, it’s important that Chiefs and Pirates win this league soon,” Comitis – who is on the PSL’s executive committee – said on SABC radio’s Sports Night Amplified.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That’s good for business. Because you have the country’s favourite clubs winning a trophy… To me, it’s important that there is always a Chiefs or a Pirates or a Sundowns in the mix of being on the top end (of the league table). It’s the way things work,” Comitis continued.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2336232\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-959317920.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1159\" height=\"1741\" /> <em>Bangaly Soumahoro of Mamelodi Sundowns challenges Paulinho of Barcelona FC during an international friendly at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 16 May 2018. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2336231\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-959310084.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1741\" height=\"1159\" /> <em>Sergi Roberto of Barcelona FC challenges Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on 16 May 2018. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That’s what keeps the sponsors interested, that’s what keeps the broadcasters interested. That’s a reality… To me, when Chiefs hasn’t been up there and above there, we can feel the down. Even as a club that’s not Chiefs and Pirates.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pirates last won the league title in 2012 as part of a treble under the tutelage of Brazilian Júlio César Leal. Despite that long league drought, Pirates have won five domestic knockout Cups in the past four years to somewhat appease their fans.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chiefs, on the other hand, have not won any important trophy for nearly a decade. Their last silverware success came in 2015 when they won the Premiership and MTN8 double with Stuart Baxter. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then it’s been a downward plummet for Amakhosi, which resulted in them finishing 10th in the league last season, the lowest league placing in the club’s history. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We need them to be up there and playing great. Then everybody will want to come and watch. So that when you’re playing Chiefs you don’t get 18,000 [stadium spectators], you get like 32/34,000 fans,” the experienced soccer administrator stated.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2336229\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TL_2250109.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1782\" height=\"1138\" /> <em>Relebohile Mofokeng of Orlando Pirates during a CAF Champions League match against Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on 23 August 2024. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2336228\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TL_2250071.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1739\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Deon Hotto of Orlando Pirates under pressure during their match against Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium on 23 August 2024. (Photo: Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the formation of Cape Town City in 2016 (after they acquired the top-flight status of Mpumalanga Black Aces) Comitis was chairperson of Ajax Cape Town. As such, he knows all about running a club with a minimal budget and remaining competitive. His current venture, City, has proven this during their eight-year existence.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence the businessperson was quick to clarify that in rooting for the resurrection of Pirates and Chiefs as prime predators in the league ecosystem, he is not talking down on City. He is fully cognisant of where his own club fits into said ecosystem. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I know I’m talking against myself. But we need to be smart and find the right players to compete with them. When I was involved with Ajax, we competed with Pirates with 19- and 20-year-olds. If you remember, we won the Rothman’s Cup,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“But it’s important that we understand how marketing works… When [Chiefs and Pirates] are winning, stadiums are full, corporates want to be involved, broadcasters are keen to broadcast extra games – it’s a snowball effect. Let’s not kid ourselves. But at the same time we also believe we’re capable of winning things.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just when Chiefs and Pirates will finally reassert themselves as true threats to Masandawana’s dominance remains unclear. However, as Comitis says, it is important that they do it expeditiously. Somehow. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"name": " Deon Hotto of Orlando Pirates during the CAF Champions League, First Preliminary Round, 2nd Leg match between Orlando Pirates and Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Alche Greeff/Gallo Images)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In every ecosystem there is a hierarchy. There are predators and there are prey. In soccer the same is true. Except, in South African soccer the past few years have seen Mamelodi Sundowns feast alone in the Premiership, while other would-be predators have been left scavenging for scraps.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the new league season set to start on 14 September, Sundowns are once again heavy favourites to clinch the league marathon – for the eighth time in a row. The last time a team that is not Sundowns won the local league was when Gavin Hunt led the now defunct Bidvest Wits to overall victory in 2017.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cape Town City owner John Comitis said recently that in the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) ecosystem it is important that Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs each win the league in the near future. After all, the teams are by far the most supported in the country – backed by millions in South Africa and beyond.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2336233\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1829\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2336233\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TL_1894344.jpg\" alt=\"Pirates Chiefs Comitis\" width=\"1829\" height=\"1099\" /> <em>Cape Town City owner John Comitis in Cape Town on 1 August 2022. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the pair of Soweto foes have had to take a back seat and watch in admiration as Masandawana continuously demonstrate that they have mastered the art of winning the league marathon.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last season, Sundowns showed they had perfected this craft as they cruised to the Premiership title, losing just one of their 30 games (ironically to Comitis’s City) on the way to a PSL points record haul with 73 to the 50 that second-placed Pirates and Stellenbosch in third accumulated. </span>\r\n<h4><b>It’s just business</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If I’m standing at the executive level and I’m looking at the product without being emotional about my own club, it’s important that Chiefs and Pirates win this league soon,” Comitis – who is on the PSL’s executive committee – said on SABC radio’s Sports Night Amplified.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That’s good for business. Because you have the country’s favourite clubs winning a trophy… To me, it’s important that there is always a Chiefs or a Pirates or a Sundowns in the mix of being on the top end (of the league table). It’s the way things work,” Comitis continued.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2336232\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1159\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2336232\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-959317920.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1159\" height=\"1741\" /> <em>Bangaly Soumahoro of Mamelodi Sundowns challenges Paulinho of Barcelona FC during an international friendly at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 16 May 2018. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2336231\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1741\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2336231\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-959310084.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1741\" height=\"1159\" /> <em>Sergi Roberto of Barcelona FC challenges Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on 16 May 2018. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That’s what keeps the sponsors interested, that’s what keeps the broadcasters interested. That’s a reality… To me, when Chiefs hasn’t been up there and above there, we can feel the down. Even as a club that’s not Chiefs and Pirates.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pirates last won the league title in 2012 as part of a treble under the tutelage of Brazilian Júlio César Leal. Despite that long league drought, Pirates have won five domestic knockout Cups in the past four years to somewhat appease their fans.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chiefs, on the other hand, have not won any important trophy for nearly a decade. Their last silverware success came in 2015 when they won the Premiership and MTN8 double with Stuart Baxter. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then it’s been a downward plummet for Amakhosi, which resulted in them finishing 10th in the league last season, the lowest league placing in the club’s history. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We need them to be up there and playing great. Then everybody will want to come and watch. So that when you’re playing Chiefs you don’t get 18,000 [stadium spectators], you get like 32/34,000 fans,” the experienced soccer administrator stated.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2336229\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1782\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2336229\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TL_2250109.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1782\" height=\"1138\" /> <em>Relebohile Mofokeng of Orlando Pirates during a CAF Champions League match against Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on 23 August 2024. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2336228\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1739\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2336228\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TL_2250071.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1739\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Deon Hotto of Orlando Pirates under pressure during their match against Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium on 23 August 2024. (Photo: Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the formation of Cape Town City in 2016 (after they acquired the top-flight status of Mpumalanga Black Aces) Comitis was chairperson of Ajax Cape Town. As such, he knows all about running a club with a minimal budget and remaining competitive. His current venture, City, has proven this during their eight-year existence.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence the businessperson was quick to clarify that in rooting for the resurrection of Pirates and Chiefs as prime predators in the league ecosystem, he is not talking down on City. He is fully cognisant of where his own club fits into said ecosystem. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I know I’m talking against myself. But we need to be smart and find the right players to compete with them. When I was involved with Ajax, we competed with Pirates with 19- and 20-year-olds. If you remember, we won the Rothman’s Cup,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“But it’s important that we understand how marketing works… When [Chiefs and Pirates] are winning, stadiums are full, corporates want to be involved, broadcasters are keen to broadcast extra games – it’s a snowball effect. Let’s not kid ourselves. But at the same time we also believe we’re capable of winning things.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just when Chiefs and Pirates will finally reassert themselves as true threats to Masandawana’s dominance remains unclear. However, as Comitis says, it is important that they do it expeditiously. Somehow. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Cape Town City owner John Comitis in Cape Town on 1 August 2022. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)
Bangaly Soumahoro of Mamelodi Sundowns challenges Paulinho of Barcelona FC during an international friendly at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 16 May 2018. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images / Getty Images)
Sergi Roberto of Barcelona FC challenges Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on 16 May 2018. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images / Getty Images)
Relebohile Mofokeng of Orlando Pirates during a CAF Champions League match against Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on 23 August 2024. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images)
Deon Hotto of Orlando Pirates under pressure during their match against Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium on 23 August 2024. (Photo: Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)