The Betway Premiership action heats up this weekend as teams battle it out for crucial points across the table. With clubs vying for positions at both the top and the bottom of the standings, here are four standout fixtures you won’t want to miss this weekend.
Chippa United v Sekhukhune United
Chippa United will be gunning for a second successive win at home to Sekhukhune United on Saturday.
The Chilli Boys overcame Cape Town City in their last Betway Premiership encounter on Tuesday to move into ninth place on the league standings with six wins from their opening 16 games.
But they won’t have it easy against a free-scoring Sekhukhune, who last saw off AmaZulu 4-2 and currently occupy fourth place on the standings, with eight wins from 17 games.
Chippa United coach Thabo September said on SuperSport: “The problem is that we’re not consistent. That’s something that we need to do better. We haven’t won two games in a row this season, so that is the problem.”
After his side’s recent win, Sekhukhune coach Lehlohonolo Seema added: “Credit must go to the players because we knew how they would come and we tried to stop them but the goal that we conceded was soft.
“I think overall the guys did well, you can see the energy and the substitute also brought energy. Credit must go to the club. The players are working hard and we must continue winning our games.”
AmaZulu v Magesi
AmaZulu are a wounded animal heading into their home clash with Magesi after a 4-2 roller-coaster of a defeat to Sekhukhune where they came close to securing a hard-fought point only to concede two late goals.
They’ve managed to pick up seven wins from 18 games this season to sit in eighth place as Magesi try to dig themselves out of a sticky start to their first top-flight season, down in 15th with 14 points.
Magesi have just three wins all season, but two have come in quick succession with a 2-0 home win over Cape Town City and 1-0 win away to an in-form Polokwane City in their most recent encounter.
Usuthu boss Arthur Zwane said: “(The problem is) sloppy defending. You know I am one person that usually protects players, but we can’t carry on like this.
“We can’t concede goals like this and expect to be a better team. So yes, we’ll take responsibility as the coaches, but the players also need to come to the party.”
Magesi coach Owen da Gama said in the Sowetan: “There is still a lot of pressure, but at least there are good signs. It’s a good sign for me that we are on the right track, we’ve not arrived yet.
“Once you get that monkey off your back it takes a lot of weight off the players and they see better things.”
Marumo Gallants v Polokwane City
Marumo Gallants announced the sacking of head coach Dan Malesela and
Technical Director Molefi Ntseki prior to their game with Polokwane City.
In 14th place on the league with just four wins from 17 matches, Gallants have turned to Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who is in South Africa to finalise a deal with the club.
Assistant coaches Sundra Govender and Duncan Lechesa will take temporary charge of the team for this tie.
Both teams lost their last games, with Gallants overturned 3-1 by Mamelodi Sundowns, as Rise and Shine went down to Magesi, but Polokwane occupy a far healthier position on the standings, in third place with eight wins from 18 games played so far.
City boss Phuti Mohefe explained his side’s form, saying: “There are two months that I hate; they hurt the team. The months of November and February, every time we reach these periods we tend to lose matches.
“I can’t say it’s a slump, it’s just that we were so unfortunate not to win this match [against Magesi]. We played better than the two matches and we carried ourselves well. But the thing is if you don’t shoot at goal, you won’t score.”
SuperSport United v Golden Arrows
SuperSport United have endured a torrid season in the Betway Premiership and come into this game in 12th place with 20 points from just five wins all season.
But they come into this game on the back of some improved form, with a 1-1 draw away to Sekhukhune and 4-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs.
Golden Arrows have not fared much better, and sit in 11th place, also on 20 points, having last drawn 1-1 with struggling Cape Town City.
After overcoming Amakhosi, Gavin Hunt said on Goal: “Well, it’s three points, we never won a cup, we never won anything tonight, we just got three points.
“We gotta get ourselves out of the difficult situation we are in. We haven’t done well in the league, we know that but it’s not for a lack of effort and trying and commitment is all there.”