COMMENT | Siwelele walking the SuperSport tightrope again

Siwelele’s season now enters a phase that will define not only their league position, but their psychological resilience. 

Sitting 11th on the Betway Premiership standings, five points clear of the relegation zone, and with the second round set to resume on January 20, the club occupy a space that can either become a platform for stability or a gateway to renewed anxiety.

On paper, that buffer suggests breathing room. In reality, it is a fragile margin.The opening stretch of the campaign was unforgiving. 

Siwelele lost six of their first eight matches, a run that dragged them into uncomfortable territory and raised early questions about direction, balance and belief. 

Confidence drained quickly, leaving a squad reacting to results rather than shaping them.

To his credit, coach Lehlohonolo Seema has since steadied the ship. 

Performances have improved, the structure is clearer, and the frantic edge that defined the early weeks has softened. Siwelele no longer look like a team bracing for impact every weekend.

But the Betway Premiership rarely rewards early recovery. It rewards sustained intent. This is where the ghost of SuperSport United becomes impossible to ignore.

Several players in the Siwelele squad lived through last season’s survival scramble at SuperSport United, when safety was only secured in the final two matches. 

That kind of campaign leaves a lasting imprint. Even when results improve, the memory of how quickly things can unravel never fully fades.

A five-point cushion can disappear in two bad weekends. When it does, old instincts resurface.

Relegation battles reshape behaviour. Teams become cautious. Risk is replaced by restraint. 

Protecting a point starts to feel like progress. Over time, ambition shrinks, and survival becomes the only language spoken.  Siwelele must resist that drift.

Their current position should be a launchpad, not a comfort blanket. Mid-table must be treated as temporary, not satisfactory. 

That means being proactive against teams around them and brave enough to chase victories rather than manage fear.

The acquisition of Matsatsantsa’s status brought expectation as much as opportunity. 

Siwelele inherited a club identity built on competitiveness and consistency. What they cannot afford to inherit is the survival mentality that nearly swallowed SuperSport United.

Seema’s task now extends beyond tactics. It is about mindset. This team must be encouraged to play forward, to impose itself, and to trust that progress comes from intention, not avoidance.

January is deceptive. Fixtures look manageable, the table appears forgiving, and danger feels distant. History shows that this is exactly when seasons are shaped.

Siwelele have five points in hand. What matters now is whether they use them to climb — or simply cling on and hope.