‘Original’ Soweto derby headlines midweek DStv Premiership action

The ‘original’ Soweto derby between Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates will headline the midweek DStv Premiership action on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 April.

The Birds and the Buccaneers will renew their rivalry with a clash at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday evening, with the teams enjoying very different fortunes this past weekend.

Swallows claimed a much-needed win (their first in the league since November last year) when they edged bottom-of-the-log Cape Town Spurs 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a late strike from Gabadinho Mhango.

Pirates, meanwhile, saw their six-game unbeaten run across all competitions come to an end when they were beaten 2-1 by Sekhukhune United on Saturday – a result which saw coach Jose Riveiro question the attitude of his players in regards to aggression and intensity.

“It's not because of the names on the field, it's because of the attitude," said Riveiro. "[You are] 1-0 down, you have nothing to lose and you start to play with a little bit more risk but we need to assume those risks early in the game when we're 0-0 because that's our intention when we're coming to the games.”

Sekhukhune will look to continue their brilliant form and chase a sixth successive league win when they host Cape Town City on Tuesday, on an evening which will also feature Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in action against Stellenbosch FC and Richards Bay respectively.

While the Amakhosi are looking to break out of a rut which has seen them manage just one win from their last seven matches across all competitions, the Brazilians will be out to extend their unbeaten run in the league – which stretches back to September 2022 and encompasses an incredible 42 matches.

Chiefs may find Stellies a tough opponent given that the Cape has lost just once in their last 19 matches – and that defeat was in the Black Label Cup against an All-Star XI and therefore not technically an official competitive fixture – while Sundowns will look to shake off the aches and pains of travel after a 0-0 draw away to Tanzania’s Young Africans in Dar es Salaam in the CAF Champions League.

“The plan is to get home safe now, rest, drink lots of water, sleep, analyse the game and prepare for the Richards Bay match,” said Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena. "We have got a very important league game on Tuesday, so that's the plan for now.”

Also keep an eye out for Golden Arrows, as they chase a third straight win when they host SuperSport United; Polokwane City will head to Durban for a clash with AmaZulu; TS Galaxy will chase a first top-flight win over Royal AM; and Cape Town Spurs will be desperate for a win when they face Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

DStv Premiership fixtures, 2-3 April 2024

Times CAT

Tuesday 2 April

19:30: AmaZulu FC v Polokwane City

19:30: Kaizer Chiefs v Stellenbosch FC

19:30: Mamelodi Sundowns v Richards Bay

19:30: Sekhukhune United v Cape Town City

Wednesday 3 April

19:30: Golden Arrows v SuperSport United

19:30: Chippa United v Cape Town Spurs

19:30: TS Galaxy v Royal AM

19:30: Moroka Swallows v Orlando Pirates