Chiefs, Sundowns renew heavyweight rivalry

Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns will renew their heavyweight rivalry in the pick of a busy slate of working week matches in the DStv Premiership.

Chiefs and ‘Downs will meet at the FNB Stadium on the evening of Thursday 2 May, with the Soweto giants hoping to pick up where they left off on the weekend, while the Tshwane visitors have some anger to work out after a painful continental club exit.

The Amakhosi snapped a five-game winless streak when they defeated SuperSport United 2-1 on Saturday, thanks to a late winner from Mduduzi Shabalala. “We’ve broken an egg after a long time,” said relieved coach Cavin Johnson.

As for the Brazilians, who will play two league matches this week (starting out on Monday 29 April when they face TS Galaxy), the anger of a 1-0 (2-0 on aggregate) loss to Esperance de Tunis which saw yet another promising Caf Champions League campaign come to a disappointing end will have them chomping at the bit.

“I can’t really talk about Sundowns the last few years, but where we are right now. I can say I’m very proud of this group to do what they’ve done and been so close all the time,” said coach Rhulani Mokwena, whose team could be crowned champions on Thursday night if they defeat both Galaxy and Chiefs in the course of the week.

The midweek action kicks off on Tuesday with bottom-of-the-log Cape Town Spurs looking to boost their survival hopes in a clash at home to Polokwane City, at the same time that second-from-bottom Richards Bay tackle AmaZulu FC in a regional derby.

Wednesday, a public holiday, features a potential thriller between Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates in an afternoon kick-off at the Cape Town Stadium. At the same time, Moroka Swallows will face Chippa United at the atmospheric Buffalo City Stadium, while the late afternoon and early evening will have Stellenbosch FC and Royal AM playing host to Golden Arrows and SuperSport United respectively.

Thursday brings the Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns game at ‘Soccer City’ before the working week is rounded out on Friday evening when Sekhukhune United welcome TS Galaxy to the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

DStv Premiership midweek fixtures

Times CAT

Tuesday 30 April

19:30: Cape Town Spurs v Polokwane City

19:30: Richards Bay v AmaZulu FC

Wednesday 1 May

15:00: Cape Town City v Orlando Pirates

15:00: Chippa United v Moroka Swallows

17:30: Stellenbosch FC v Golden Arrows

19:30: Royal AM v SuperSport United

Thursday 2 May

19:30: Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns