Orlando Pirates will look to close the gap to Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, as they play two matches in the space of four days before the league heads into a lengthy recess.
The reigning Betway Premiership champions have been out of domestic action for more than two weeks, as they earned a place in the next round of the CAF Champions League by overcoming Mauritius club La Cure Waves 3-1 on aggregate.
Sundowns, who had a bye into the next round of the continental competition as reigning African champions, took advantage by opening a seven-point lead over second-placed Pirates (who now have three games in hand on the Brazilians).
The Tshwane club will not be in league action this week, but will watch with great interest – not only in terms of Pirates trying to erode their lead, but also with one eye on the MTN8 final between the clubs, set for the 10th of October.
The Buccaneers will first be in action on Thursday evening when they host Durban City (who have also been busy in CAF club competition, overcoming Rukinzo of Burundi in the Confederation Cup) in Soweto, before travelling to Rustenburg on Sunday for a clash with Marumo Gallants.
And coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is greatly concerned by a lack of depth at right-back, with Kamogelo Sebelebele the only genuine option in the squad.
“It’s a big concern [having one right-back], even Sebelebele. I love him, but I cannot push him to 60 games. It’s difficult; he’s not a robot,” said Ouaddou.
“I can find solutions sometimes, some emergency wheel, like when your car is stuck but the emergency wheel is not going to work all the time, especially with how we want to play; we want to play attacking football using the wide channels.”
Focus on the weekend will also fall on AmaZulu FC, who have enjoyed a fine start to the season and find themselves placed third ahead of a trip to Polokwane City on Saturday. Usuthu will hope for more heroics from striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, who has scored nine goals in seven appearances across all competitions so far this season.
The PSL Player of the Month for August insists he won’t let the accolades and attention affect him, instead focusing on doing the job asked of him by his team, “Yeah, I know, it’s not like pressure but I will take each game as it is, and I will score each and every goal.”
Kaizer Chiefs, as ever, will be closely scrutinised for their Sunday trip to the Mbombela Stadium to face Golden Arrows. The Amakhosi played to a disappointing draw away to Polokwane last weekend, which saw them surrender third place on the log to AmaZulu.
Coach Fernando Da Crux has been left frustrated by his team’s propensity for costly errors, the latest of which saw goalkeeper Brandon Petersen culpable for Polokwane’s equalising goal.
“Before we didn’t make mistakes and didn’t give a chance to the opponent. Since Richards Bay, then Siwelele and now Polokwane, the opponent doesn’t create a chance but we make a big mistake and allow the opponent to score,” vented the French tactician.
He added, “We created chances and didn’t make the breakthrough, and when you don’t do that, you give the opponent the opportunity to come back.”
The weekend also features clutch matches for teams seeking their first win of the season. Aside from bottom-placed Gallants hosting Pirates, Richards Bay and Chippa United will also seek their first ‘W’ in games against Sekhukhune United and TS Galaxy respectively.
And rookies Kruger United and Milford FC will both look to build more momentum after wins last weekend, as they tackle Stellenbosch FC and Durban City respectively.
This week’s block of eight matches will be the last in the Premiership for more than three weeks, with the league going on recess due to the international break and MTN8 final. The first match back will be on 13 October, with Durban and AmaZulu meeting for a midweek derby.
Betway Premiership fixtures
Times CAT
Thursday 17 September
7:30pm: Orlando Pirates v Durban City
Saturday 19 September
3pm: Richards Bay v Sekhukhune United
5:30pm: Polokwane City v AmaZulu FC
8pm: Kruger United v Stellenbosch FC
Sunday 20 September
3pm: Golden Arrows v Kaizer Chiefs
3pm: Milford FC v Durban City
3pm: Marumo Gallants v Orlando Pirates
5:30pm: TS Galaxy v Chippa United