Stellenbosch, Pirates continue race for second place

A full weekend of DStv Premiership action will be headlined by the race between Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates to finish in second place and secure qualification for next season’s CAF Champions League.

Stellenbosch, who saw their long unbeaten run broken last weekend when they succumbed to Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup, currently occupy second spot on the log and hold a one-point lead over third-placed Pirates.

The Cape side can stretch their advantage to four points when they face Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with coach Steve Barker determined to see his side qualify for the top-tier African club competition – which would cap off an outstanding season for the team from the Winelands.

“I think the Champions League is the first prize and finishing second and playing in that competition is our aim," he said.

“But as you can see, many teams have hit good form at the right time. Pirates are playing well. I believe we are playing well, so it will go down to the wire.”

Pirates will only be able to respond to Stellenbosch’s result on Saturday night when they welcome second-from-bottom Richards Bay to Orlando Stadium, while the day will also feature champions Mamelodi Sundowns looking to rack up a milestone 50th successive unbeaten Premiership match when they host Royal AM, as well as a Limpopo derby between Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The weekend’s action gets going on Friday night with Cape Town Spurs looking to keep their slim survival hopes alive with a win away to SuperSport United, while Sunday’s trio of matches is headlined by a clash between AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Chiefs have ended their last two matches with 10 men, but coach Cavin Johnson at least believes his team has learned the harsh lessons given in a 5-1 loss to Sundowns early in the month.

“Today they [the players] know how it feels to play with 10 men,” said Johnson. “They know what they need to put up to play with 10 men and it showed me that we can play better with 10 men.”

Sunday also features Golden Arrows hosting Chippa United at the Mpumalanga Stadium and Cape Town City chasing back-to-back wins when they welcome TS Galaxy to the DHL Cape Town Stadium.

Times CAT

Friday 10 May

19:30: SuperSport United v Cape Town Spurs

Saturday 11 May

15:00: Moroka Swallows v Stellenbosch FC

15:00: Polokwane City v Sekhukhune United

17:30: Mamelodi Sundowns v Royal AM

20:00: Orlando Pirates v Richards Bay

Sunday 12 May

15:00: Golden Arrows v Chippa United

15:00: Cape Town City v TS Galaxy

17:30: AmaZulu FC v Kaizer Chiefs