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Sundowns look to stretch their lead, Chiefs under pressure

football26 December 2024 14:30| © Backpage TXT
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Sundowns players @ Gallo images

The last round of Betway Premiership matches for the year 2024 will see leaders Mamelodi Sundowns looking to stretch their advantage at the top of the log, while struggling heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs will come under yet more scrutiny.

Sundowns, winners of the last seven Premiership titles in succession, hold a three-point lead over nearest chasers Orlando Pirates (who have played a game less) and could double that buffer on Saturday afternoon when they face strugglers Richards Bay at the King Zwelithini Stadium.

The Brazilians have won all six of their previous league and cup matches against Bay, and will carry the momentum of a 1-0 win over AmaZulu FC on Christmas eve – with Iqraam Rayners’s late goal securing victory.

Rayners has scored in five games in a row, but Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso insists that his team is not reliant on the Bafana Bafana forward.

“I am not really worried. I would be worried if we were not creating many chances like we did in the last games,” said Cardoso.

“We arrive in the box with many players, and we have goal situations. I believe that we have many goals to come from different players. We have people that can make goals. They will find them naturally.”

Pirates will have the chance to respond to Sundowns’ result when they face Magesi FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. The Buccaneers are fresh from a massive 8-1 win over Marumo Gallants earlier this week, with coach Jose Riveiro emphasising that his team is committed to pushing throughout the season to try and dethrone Sundowns.

“We all expect to have a tight race for the top during the season,” explained the Spanish tactician. “This is just game No 9, but you can see it’s not going to be an easy race. Every game counts, every goal that you score, every goal you concede, so we have to try to find an advantage whenever the advantage is presented to us.”

While Pirates are clearly in a good place, their Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs cannot claim the same. The Amakhosi have managed just three wins from their first nine league matches and sit in a mediocre ninth place.

Chiefs need to claim a win at home to Chippa United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday evening, or the pressure will continue to mount on coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has been criticised both for results and his ‘long ball’ style of play.

The Tunisian is hopeful that things will turn around quickly: “I also want Chiefs supporters and management to be happy by us collecting more points. To collect more points we need consistent performances in our games and that’s my wish for this Christmas.”

The weekend also sees high-flying Polokwane City looking to continue their form when they travel to face Golden Arrows; bottom-of-the-log Marumo Gallants face Sekhukhune United away from home; SuperSport United face a testing clash at home to Stellenbosch FC; Cape Town City and AmaZulu FC will resume their rivalry; and Royal AM will hope to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone when they host TS Galaxy.

Betway Premiership weekend fixtures

Times CAT

Saturday 28 December

15:30: Golden Arrows v Polokwane City

15:30: Richards Bay v Mamelodi Sundowns

17:45: Sekhukhune United v Marumo Gallants

20:00: SuperSport United v Stellenbosch FC

Sunday 29 December

15:30: Cape Town City v AmaZulu FC

15:30: Magesi FC v Orlando Pirates

15:30: Royal AM v TS Galaxy

17:45: Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa United

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