2022/23 DStv Premiership
Matchday 19
3-5 February 2023
Marumo Gallants have just 10 games to save their
DStv Premiership status, while Swallows are in danger of having to navigate the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Swallows' fight for survival continues when they welcome Richards Bay to the Dobsonville Stadium on Friday evening.
The Dube Birds are two points adrift of safety in 15th position after a 0-0 draw with SuperSport United last Saturday extended their winless run to three games. The Natal Rich Boyz (2nd) saw the gap to the league summit widen to 21 points with a second successive 1-1 draw, this time against AmaZulu.
Also on Friday, Maritzburg United will be targeting their first KZN derby win over AmaZulu in three years at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
The Team of Choice gave themselves every chance of avoiding the drop after recording three victories in a row but a 1-0 defeat to Chippa United last Sunday left them just two points clear of the bottom two in 14th place. Usuthu shared the derby spoils in a 1-1 draw with Richards Bay on the same day to remain in 8th spot as they went unbeaten in three matches.
League leaders Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to make it 15 wins on the spin when they lock horns with Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates were the last team to beat the Brazilians, although that was in the MTN 8 semi-finals, with Rulani Mokwena's side having since gone on to set a new record for consecutive victories in the top flight. A 2-0 triumph over Sekhukhune United last Saturday took them 21 points clear of the chasing pack, while the Buccaneers (4th) beat Gallants 2-0 to extend their own winning streak to three matches.
Meanwhile, rock-bottom Marumo Gallants will be desperate for three points when they host Sekhukhune United at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa find themselves five points shy of safety, having played two games more than the teams above them and the club have made an interim change in the coaching department in a bid to turns things around. Dan Malesela was put on special leave this week with his assistant coach, Raymond Mdaka, taking over the reins.
"I believe that Malesela and his team have done their best, however, the results show that it's time to reflect and come up with different tactics," Gallants chairman Abram Sello said in a statement.
"Losing games takes its toll mentally, physically and emotionally. Therefore, this opportunity will allow for the technical team to re-energise and come back with improved strategies.
"Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of pausing football games during this period, and therefore we have an interim technical team taking the reins for now. I trust my players and I know that they will continue to strive for wins and make myself and our supporters proud."
Babina Noko (6th) went down 2-0 to Sundowns last Saturday which was their first defeat under Brandon Truter, who had gone unbeaten in his opening five games at the helm.
Stellenbosch will be looking to build on only their fourth win of the season when they take on Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Maroons (13th) halted a worrisome nine-game winless run with a 3-2 victory over Cape Town City last Friday, which lifted them out of the relegation zone. The Chilli Boys (7th) also returned to winning ways as they claimed the scalp of Maritzburg United to arrest a seven-match winless sequence.
Stellies head coach Steve Barker praised the commitment of his players to keep fighting against the Citizens after going two goals down and described their performance as "one of the best" he's seen.
"I think it was an incredible result for us. I think we went down early from a set-piece and a team that is sort of at the bottom of the table that could have just been done, the heads could have dropped," Barker said.
"But I thought the response in the first half was... it's probably one of the best performances I've seen by this Stellenbosch team. They deserve that, they've worked hard. They've been written off, they've been touted against but what I've never ever seen a lack of commitment."
Elsewhere, SuperSport United (3rd) will be seeking their first win in five outings when Cape Town City (9th) arrive at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, while Golden Arrows (11th) and Royal AM (12th) go head to head at the Princess Magogo Stadium, with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats last time out.
In the only encounter taking place on Sunday, TS Galaxy will be hoping to build on their biggest victory of the season for the visit of Kaizer Chiefs to the Mbombela Stadium.
The Rockets (10th) thumped Arrows 4-0 last Sunday to record their fourth triumph of the campaign, which came on the back of two successive defeats and halted a run of five games without a win. Amakhosi (5th) picked up their first victory of 2023 as they beat Royal AM 2-0 to end a run of three straight losses.
DStv Premiership fixtures
Friday:
18h00: Swallows v Richards Bay
19h30: Maritzburg United v AmaZulu
Saturday:
15h30: Chippa United v Stellenbosch
15h30: Golden Arrows v Royal AM
15h30: Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns
17h30: SuperSport United v Cape Town City
20h00: Marumo Gallants v Sekhukhune United
Sunday:
15h30: TS Galaxy v Kaizer Chiefs
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