The issues of qualification for the CAF Champions League, the top eight order and relegation will be settled on the final day of the 2022-23 DStv Premiership, with seven matches played across South Africa on the afternoon of Saturday, 20 May.
One Round 30 match has already been played, with Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United drawing 1-1 on Tuesday, 16 May. The match was brought forward due to the Brazilians’ ongoing participation in the CAF Champions League.
The Tshwane side will return to the CAFCL next season due to their sixth successive title success, but which club will join them in the premier continental competition?
Orlando Pirates currently occupy the all-important runners-up slot, but SuperSport United trail them only on goal difference.
The Buccaneers will face AmaZulu away on the final day and need to at least match Matsatsantsa’s result away to Sekhukhune United to lock down second place.
“You can correct me if I am wrong, but it is still in our hands to get the second spot when we win next week in Durban, that’s our objective now. Hopefully, the Buccaneers [supporters] will fill up the stadium and we can celebrate the second position,” said Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, who will also look to complete a cup double by adding the Nedbank Cup to the MTN8 when the former competition’s final is played on 27 May.
“Anything can happen [on the final day],” noted SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt. “Personally and for the players, it will be a huge disappointment [if we don’t qualify for the Champions League] because they know we stuffed this thing up.”
Sundowns, Pirates, SuperSport, Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City are guaranteed to occupy the first five places, with the remaining three spots in the top eight (and qualification for next season’s MTN8) up for grabs.
Stellenbosch FC, Sekhukhune and Golden Arrows (all 37 points) occupy spots six to eight, but Swallows FC (37), TS Galaxy (35) and even Royal AM (34) are all in with a shot of sneaking into the top half, depending on the combination of results.
In terms of relegation, Maritzburg are in the safety of 14th place on the log after their midweek draw with Sundowns, one point ahead of Marumo Gallants (15th, relegation playoff berth) and Chippa United (16th, direct relegation), but the bottom two will have the chance to overtake the KwaZulu-Natal team with their respective matches against Swallows FC (away) and Golden Arrows (home).
Richards Bay (three points clear of the bottom two and without a win since mid-January) could also be drawn into the relegation playoff spot on goal difference depending on their result at home to Royal AM.
DSTV PREMIERSHIP FINAL-DAY FIXTURES
Saturday 20 May All matches kick-off at 3pm CAT
Chippa United v Golden Arrows
Sekhukhune United v SuperSport United
Swallows FC v Marumo Gallants
AmaZulu v Orlando Pirates
Stellenbosch FC v TS Galaxy
Kaizer Chiefs v Cape Town City
Richards Bay v Royal AM