What can you read into the Diski Challenge table after 10 games

With 10 game weeks complete, the DStv Diski Challenge has already traversed over a third of its seasonal journey.

WHAT INSIGHTS CAN WE GLEAN FROM THIS JUNCTURE?

Historical data from the previous season indicates that substantial variation in team standings is relatively uncommon. For instance, only a mere pair of teams concluded the campaign more than three positions distant from their standings at this point in the season.

The changes from last season in the league standings have been quite interesting. Marumo Gallants, who were at the bottom in 15th place, managed to climb to finish in 12th position. Meanwhile, Golden Arrows improved their position by three spots, moving from 14th to 11th by the end of the season.

Champions, Kaizer Chiefs, surged from second place to finish first, while Stellenbosch, who were first after the first 10 games, dropped to second.

Mamelodi Sundowns maintained their position, finishing third after being in the same spot after first 10 games.

Cape Town City fell from fourth to sixth place, and SuperSport moved up from fifth to fourth. TS Galaxy dropped from sixth to seventh, while Orlando Pirates climb from seventh to finish fifth in the league standings.

THE BELOW TABLE SHOWS HOW DID THINGS CHANGE LAST SEASON.

What changed after the 10th game in 2024-25?

CLUB	POSITION AFTER 10 GAMES	FINAL POSITION	CHANGE
Stellenbosch FC	1^st	2^nd	-1
Kaizer Chiefs	2^nd	1st	+1
Mamelodi Sundowns	3rd	3rd	0
Cape Town City FC	4^th	6^th	-2
SuperSport United	5^th	4^th	+1
TS Galaxy	6^th	7^th	-1
Orlando Pirates	7^th	5^th	+2
Richards Bay FC	8^th	8^th	0
Sekhukhune United	9^th	9^th	0
AmaZulu FC	10^th	10^th	0
Polokwane City FC	11^th	13^th	-2
Magesi FC	12^th	14^th	-2
Chippa United	13^th	15^th	-2
Golden Arrows	14^th	11^th	+3
Marumo Gallants	15^th	12^th	+3

While these early-season quirks start to become sustainable trends, the Diski Challenge table has also started to take shape after 10 games.

Pirates are at the pinnacle of the log currently after amassing 25 points from their 10 encounters. They are trailed by Mamelodi Sundowns, who occupy the second position with 20 points, five adrift of the leaders. With the Buccaneers enjoying an impeccable commencement to the season, one must ponder: could this be their year of triumph?

Nevertheless, that inquiry shall remain unanswered until May.

Pirates' coach Roscoe Krieling has indicated that he is not overly preoccupied with the league standings at this juncture; his primary objective is to be consistent until the last game of the campaign.

The upper echelon of the table is markedly congested, with a mere seven points distinguishing AmaZulu in ninth spot from Sundowns in second in second. In light of recent seasons, this distribution of clubs exemplifies the cutthroat competitiveness characterising the nascent stages of the Diski Challenge.

Richards Bay FC has emerged as the unexpected revelation of the season thus far, holding forth in fourth place with 18 points accrued from their initial 10 matches. Siwelele FC closely follows in fifth place with 16 points and boasts the commendable record of conceding the fewest goals (7), identical to that of the Pirates.

Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs have experienced a challenging start to their campaign, currently occupying the sixth position with 14 points.

Although it remains early in the season, the DDC table has a settled look already, and previous evidence suggests it is unlikely to shift dramatically.