Kaizer Chiefs spend Christmas in bottom half Betway Premiership

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Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs will celebrate Christmas in the bottom half of the Betway Premiership standings.

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Kaizer Chiefs have one final fixture left in 2024 in order to attempt to break into the top half of the 16-team log.

That fixture – against Chippa United on Sunday, 29 December – also affords Amakhosi the possibility of recording their first clean sheet of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.

Amakhosi are the only team that has conceded at least one goal in every one of their fixtures this season.

The Soweto giants have played nine fixtures to date.

No surprise then to learn that Kaizer Chiefs have conceded more goals (13) than any other side to date, apart from Marumo Gallants who allowed eight in a single match against Orlando Pirates on Christmas Eve.

Time to bring back Itumeleng Khune – and buy a new defence in the off-season?

In PSL history, only 15 teams have gone longer without a clean sheet from the start of a top-flight season.

Kaizer Chiefs vs Kaizer Chiefs

A look through the history books shows how the Kaizer Chiefs class of 2024’s lack of clean sheets ranks in PSL history.

Before this season, Kaizer Chiefs’ worst start without a clean sheet was three games (in 1997/98 and 2018/19).

So, when they lost 1-0 to SuperSport United in October this year, they set a new club record of four matches without a clean sheet to start any season.

Since then, that unwanted ‘record’ has been extended even further – and further.

While nine games without a clean to start the season is alarming, it is by no means the worst in PSL history.

Before this run, 15 teams had gone longer without a clean sheet from the start of a top-flight season (as listed below).

Who holds the record?

Golden Arrows hold the PSL record for the longest run without a clean sheet, having to wait until Game 28 for a first shutout in the 2013/14 season.

First coached by Manqoba Mngqthi, then Mark Harrison and finally Shaun Bartlett, they conceded 46 goals in their first 27 games of that season.

Needless to say, they were relegated that season.

They got their first – and only – clean sheet against Cavin Johnson’s SuperSport United in Game 28, but it was too little, too late.

This merely delayed their relegation, with a 1-0 loss to AmaZulu in Week 29 confirming their demise.

Kaizer Chiefs are still 18 games away from that record, so it’s still safe to say there is no need to worry in that regard – or is it … ?

Their immediate concern is their final game of the year on Sunday, 29 December against Chippa United where Kaizer Chiefs could join a group of 15 clubs that have not kept a clean sheet in their first 10 games of a season (at least).