European coaches fight for SA title

JOHANNESBURG, May 20 (AFP): A European coach will raise the South Premiership trophy Saturday whatever the outcome in a three-team title race between Ajax Cape Town, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Foppe de Haan guides leaders Ajax Cape Town, Dutch compatriot Ruud Krol bosses second-place Orlando Pirates and Serb Vladimir Vermezovic pulls the strings at long shots Kaizer Chiefs. Ajax have 59 points, Pirates 57 and Chiefs 56 going into the final round of the most thrilling championship chase since the Premiership began in 1996 and the destiny of the trophy could come down to goal difference. Should youthful Ajax win at home against bottom-half Maritzburg United they become South African champions for the first time having finished runners-up to SuperSport United three years ago. But any other result at Cape Town Stadium, the 2010 World Cup venue in the shadow of Table Mountain, could open the door for Soweto giants Pirates or Chiefs provided they collect maximum points. Pirates seem more likely to do so as they host lowly Golden Arrows while Chiefs are away to draw specialists AmaZulu, another club from Indian Ocean city Durban. The final-round tension does not stop at the top as Moroka Swallows must win away to relegated Mpumalanga Black Aces to be sure of finishing above Vasco da Gama and dodging play-offs to retain their Premiership status. Jomo Cosmos and Bay United meet Sunday and the winners replace Aces in the richest African national football championship while the losers join Black Leopards, Thanda Royal Zulu and Vasco or Swallows to fight for another place. De Haan, a 67-year-old with silver hair and a deep tan, has transformed Ajax in less than two seasons from a kick-and-rush outfit to an easy-on-the-eye side that passes its way to success.