The meeting of two of the DStv Premiership’s form teams, Stellenbosch FC and Sekhukhune United, will top the billing for a weekend of action which will see seven matches played across South Africa.
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Stellies and Babina Noko will lock horns at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday night, with the hosts looking to build on an impressive 1-0 away win over Kaizer Chiefs in midweek (which saw their unbeaten run in the league stretched to 13 matches, and take a firm hold on second place on the log), while the visitors have been raising eyebrows themselves: a 2-2 draw at home to Cape Town City in midweek extended their unbeaten run to seven matches (including a run of five straight wins, and a sequence of 10 league outings in which they have lost just once).
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has had nothing but praise for his team and is hoping they can continue to excel at the basics: “I can’t fault the effort these players are putting in week in and week out. You can see they are ready to put everything out on the field.
“We’ve got a lot of good quality attacking players, we seem to be scoring on a regular basis, so if we can shut the back door, keep the clean sheets, then it gives us the belief and the confidence that we can win matches.”
Saturday’s focus will also fall on ailing heavyweights Chiefs, who will be away to Chippa United at the Buffalo City Stadium in the afternoon and looking to break a stuttering run of form in which they have managed just one win from eight matches across all competitions.
“Always, I believe that the players are still with me. We are still together and they haven't given up hope. I can tell you straight that the team and I are still together,” said under-pressure Amakhosi coach Cavin Johnson.
At the same time, Richards Bay and Moroka Swallows will meet at King Zwelithini Stadium, while the day also features Orlando Pirates chasing a home win over Golden Arrows and SuperSport United hosting TS Galaxy in Tshwane.
Sunday sees Royal AM and Polokwane City meet at the Harry Gwala Stadium, at the same time that Cape Town City and AmaZulu renew their rivalry at the DHL Cape Town Stadium.
The Citizens and Usuthu are enduring miserable form (both have gone six games without a win in the league) but this fixture has tended to draw some fiery performances out of these teams (their last meeting in September was a five-goal thriller won by the Durban club) and may be just the spark they need to get back to their best.
DStv Premiership fixtures, 6-7 April 2024
Times CAT
Saturday 6 April
15:00: Richards Bay v Moroka Swallows
15:00: Chippa United v Kaizer Chiefs
17:30: Orlando Pirates v Golden Arrows
20:00: SuperSport United v TS Galaxy
20:00: Stellenbosch FC v Sekhukhune United
Sunday 7 April
15:00: Royal AM v Polokwane City
15:00: Cape Town City v AmaZulu FC