A heavyweight clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs tops the weekend’s Betway Premiership action, with the Amakhosi ironically looking to do a big favour for their Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.
Sundowns and Chiefs will meet at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane on Saturday afternoon, with the Brazilians hoping to add to their 15-point lead over nearest chasers Pirates at the top of the log.
Miguel Cardoso’s team racked up a 17th win from 19 league matches this season when they trumped Sekhukhune United 4-2 away from home on Wednesday evening.
As for the Amakhosi, they desperately need an emphatic response to their last outing – a 1-4 humbling at the hands of SuperSport United on February 18 – and will be hungry to end an 11-game winless run against Sundowns.
But the thought that taking points off the log leaders will directly assist the title hopes of Pirates sums up what a difficult campaign this has been for the team in gold and black.
“We cannot always give excuses, but I’m very understanding when it comes to my players,” said Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi.
“I understood that they gave their best the previous games and they were tired [for the loss to SuperSport]. I would like to ask you [supporters] to be patient with the players as you have been in the happy times; do it in the difficult times.”
Pirates will have the chance to respond to Sundowns’ afternoon result when they face Marumo Gallants at the Free State Stadium in the early evening.
The last time these teams met, the Buccaneers racked up an epic 8-1 win in December, but they will be without coach Jose Riveiro for this clash, as he will have to watch from the stands due to a one-match suspension.
Saturday also features Magesi FC hosting SuperSport United at the Seshego Stadium, TS Galaxy will look to bounce back from three straight league and cup defeats when they host Golden Arrows, and Richards Bay will look to extend their unbeaten run to five Premiership matches when they welcome Chippa United to the King Zwelithini Stadium.
The weekend’s action opens on Friday night with Stellenbosch FC looking to extend Polokwane City’s win drought to six matches, and closes on Sunday afternoon with AmaZulu FC hosting Cape Town City in Durban.
The hosts have won three of their last five league matches, while the Citizens are winless in six matches across all competitions, but Usuthu co-coach Arthur Zwane is wary of another set-back.
“You must have seen in previous games that we’ve let ourselves down, and I keep reminding the players that the only team that can beat AmaZulu is AmaZulu,” said the man known as “10111” during his playing days.
“It’s just a case of mindset and belief from our players that we can be up there in the league, but we keep beating ourselves.”
BETWAY PREMIERSHIP WEEKEND FIXTURES
Friday 28 February
7:30pm: Stellenbosch FC v Polokwane City
Saturday 1 March
3:30pm: Magesi FC v SuperSport United
3:30pm: Mamelodi Sundowns v Kaizer Chiefs
5:30pm: TS Galaxy v Golden Arrows
5:45pm: Marumo Gallants v Orlando Pirates
8pm: Richards Bay v Chippa United
Sunday 2 March
3:30pm: AmaZulu FC v Cape Town City
Sekhukhune United v Royal AM – Postponed