Stellies look to continue fine form in truncated league weekend

Stellenbosch FC’s attempt to keep up their fine form will be the leading narrative on a truncated weekend of DStv Premiership action, which will see six matches played from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 March.

Stellies have been one of the form teams in top-flight South African football of late, notably ending Mamelodi Sundowns’ record winning run with a 1-1 draw earlier this month (which followed a hat-trick of league wins) and then putting in a stunning showing last weekend to defeat TS Galaxy 6-3 in a crazy Nedbank Cup tie.

The Cape side will be in action on Friday evening when they welcome AmaZulu FC to the Danie Craven Stadium, and coach Steve Barker has been impressed by his team’s turnaround.

“We are currently in a good moment having scored freely at this stage. We solved some of the problems we had at the back,” said Barker, who was upbeat about being paired with Sundowns in the quarterfinal draw for the Nedbank Cup.

“We also have confidence and belief. We showed against Sundowns recently, you know as much as we respect them, we should not fear them, it is a type of game that gives you an opportunity to play with fearlessness and bravery.”

Friday also features Swallows FC hosting Golden Arrows at Dobsonville Stadium – with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats in their last league outings – while Saturday sees Sekhukhune United and Chippa United looking to avoid a third and fourth successive defeat respectively when they cross swords in an afternoon clash.

Saturday’s early-evening slot is a potential thriller between Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United in Soweto, while the late kick-off sees Maritzburg United looking to break a five-game winless streak in the league against a Kaizer Chiefs team chasing a hat-trick of league wins.

The Amakhosi also claimed a hard-fought win over second-tier Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup last weekend, with coach Arthur Zwane somewhat frustrated that an international break could halt the momentum they have built in recent weeks.

“Sometimes results are not forthcoming and sometimes we are blowing hot and cold, sometimes when you think we have momentum there is that break,” said Zwane ahead of the trip to the Harry Gwala Stadium. “It breaks that momentum... we won three in a row now there will be a break and if we win at the weekend, we will have a Fifa break, so it kills the momentum.”

The weekend will be wrapped up on Sunday with a meeting of TS Galaxy and Richards Bay – with the Natal Rich Boyz desperate to break a seven-game winless streak across all competitions (including a current run of four successive league defeats).

DStv Premiership weekend fixtures

Times CAT

Friday 17 March

19:30: Swallows FC v Golden Arrows

19:30: Stellenbosch FC v AmaZulu

Saturday 18 March

15:30: Sekhukhune United v Chippa United

17:45: Orlando Pirates v SuperSport United

20:00: Maritzburg United v Kaizer Chiefs

Sunday 19 March

15:30: TS Galaxy v Richards Bay