With the title decided, the focus for this weekend’s Betway Premiership action falls on the race for third place, the top-eight battle, and the scrap to avoid the relegation playoffs.
Down at the bottom of the log, Cape Town City will be desperate to break a 14-game winless run across all competitions when they face hosts Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon – and hope that fellow strugglers Golden Arrows and SuperSport United stutter in their concurrent games away to Richards Bay and away to Stellenbosch FC respectively.
“We’ll concentrate on the next 90 minutes,” said Cape Town City coach Diogo Peral, who has admitted that they have one eye on the relegation playoffs given their position on the log.
"We always put all the effort into the training sessions and everything we can for that next 90 minutes. But we’ll also be looking over our shoulders, seeing how the guys are doing in the NFD, and keeping ourselves open to all possibilities.”
Stellies could certainly do their fellow Western Cape club a big favour by defeating United at the Danie Craven Stadium, as they look to beat Sekhukhune United to third place, and qualification for next season’s Caf Confederation Cup.
Next season’s MTN8 line-up is also a notable narrative to follow in this weekend’s matches, with newly crowned Nedbank Cup champions Kaizer Chiefs in a race with Chippa United, Marumo Gallants, Richards Bay and Magesi FC to claim what is seemingly just one spot up for grabs - assuming seventh-placed Polokwane City and up are able to retain their positions.
The Amakhosi will be away to Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium; Chippa and Gallants will have a six-pointer at the Dr Molemela Stadium; Richards Bay face a KwaZulu-Natal derby against Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium; and Magesi FC will be in action late on Sunday afternoon when they tackle newly crowned Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Magesi might just be the surprise pick to swoop in and claim a top eight finish: they have an extra game in hand compared to their rivals; are unbeaten in five league matches; and could catch Sundowns in a rare lull, given that this match falls between the Tshwane side clinching the title, and the first-leg of the Caf Champions League final against Pyramids FC next weekend.
BETWAY PREMIERSHIP WEEKEND FIXTURES
Times CAT
Saturday, 17 May
3pm: Marumo Gallants v Chippa United
3pm: Orlando Pirates v TS Galaxy
3pm: Polokwane City v Cape Town City
3pm: Richards Bay v Golden Arrows
3pm: Sekhukhune United v Kaizer Chiefs
3pm: Stellenbosch FC v SuperSport United
Sunday, 18 May
5:30pm: Mamelodi Sundowns v Magesi FC