2022/23 DStv Premiership
Matchday 20
24-26 February 2023
The Soweto derby headlines this weekend's
DStv Premiership action as Orlando Pirates look to avenge their narrow defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in October.
SuperSport United and Maritzburg United will get the ball rolling on matchday 21 when they clash at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Friday evening.
Gavin Hunt's side drew 1-1 with Royal AM last Saturday to go four games unbeaten in the league, although the point ensured that Mamelodi Sundowns moved ever closer to securing a sixth consecutive title.
Matsatsantsa are still 22 points adrift of their Tshwane rivals in second place with 10 matches left to play, while the Team of Choice (15th) find themselves just three points clear of rock-bottom Marumo Gallants.
Fadlu Davids' side lost 2-1 to Pirates last Friday which extended their winless run to three outings, having won three on the spin prior to that.
The most anticipated fixture on the footballing calendar for the majority of fans across the country sees Orlando Pirates host arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers closed to within two points of SuperSport in third position with victory over Maritzburg as they bounced back from a 1-0 defeat to Sundowns to register their fourth win in five games.
Bucs assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi believes they will continue to go from strength to strength once their injuries ease up, with a number of first-team regulars having been sidelined lately.
"I think we're a team that is going to grow and be better," Ncikazi said. "When you look at the number of players coming back, [Thembinkosi] Lorch coming back, [Souaibou] Marou will get an opportunity, [Makhehlene] Makhaula getting an opportunity.
"You still have [Olisa] Ndah who is coming back from an injury, [Nkosinathi] Sibisi was out with an injury... I think there's more quality that is coming through, indicating Pirates can only be better when we're in full strength."
Amakhosi suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss against Golden Arrows last Sunday to remain in fifth spot, three points behind their neighbours and fourth-placed Richards Bay.
The Glamour Boys have now lost four of their last seven encounters since the World Cup break and the pressure is mounting on head coach Arthur Zwane, who saw a section of the club's fans turn on him after the defeat to Arrows.
"The fans are within their rights [to be angry]," Zwane confessed. "They are disappointed because we should have won this game. We should have wrapped it up in the first half. We should have scored at least six goals."
Elsewhere, Richards Bay will attempt to get their top-two challenge back on track when they welcome Stellenbosch to the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium.
The Natal Rich Boyz saw Pirates leapfrog them in the standings after going down 2-0 to Sekhukhune United last Saturday, which was their second successive defeat and their fourth match without a win.
The Maroons are hoping to keep the momentum going after recording back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they beat Cape Town City 3-2 and Chippa United 2-1 most recently to halt a nine-game winless run.
Stellies are by no means safe yet as they occupy 13th position, just two points ahead of Swallows (14th) and Maritzburg (15th), although there is only a three-point gap to the top eight.
Meanwhile, Sekhukhune United and Cape Town City will be looking to push further up the table when they meet at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The two teams are separated by just one point, with Babina Noko sitting sixth after arresting a two-match losing streak with their victory over Maritzburg. The Citizens did likewise as they beat Swallows 2-0 last Sunday to climb up to eighth spot, having overtaken Royal AM, AmaZulu, Chippa and Stellies in the process.
Then in the late kick-off, AmaZulu will target a return to winning ways when they lock horns with Royal AM in a local derby at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Usuthu saw a four-match unbeaten run come to an end with a 2-1 reverse to TS Galaxy last Saturday. It was their fourth game without a win, however, as Romain Folz's side dropped down to 11th spot, two points outside the top eight and three clear of the relegation zone.
Thwihli Thwahla are only one point better off in ninth place after they held SuperSport to a 1-1 draw last time out, which followed on from their derby success against Arrows a fortnight earlier.
In the only match taking place on Sunday, an important three points will be up for grabs when Chippa United welcome Swallows to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Chilli Boys have won just two of their last 10 matches and the loss to Stellies most recently left them in 12th spot, only three points clear of the 14th-placed Dube Birds, who are kept out of the drop zone on goal difference alone as they are tied with Maritzburg on 21 points.
The loss to City ended a two-game unbeaten run for Ernst Middendorp's side, who picked up crucial wins over Chippa and Richards Bay in recent weeks to bolster their chances of escaping the drop.
DStv Premiership matchday-21 fixtures:
Friday, February 24
19h30: SuperSport United v Maritzburg United
Saturday, February 25
15h30: Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates
17h30: Richards Bay v Stellenbosch
17h30: Sekhukhune United v Cape Town City
20h00: AmaZulu v Royal AM
Sunday, February 26
15h30: Chippa United v Swallows
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