2024/25 Betway Premiership
Matchday 3
24-25 September 2024
The Betway Premiership is back in full swing this week with all 16 teams in action for the first time, as the Cape derby between Stellenbosch and Cape Town City takes centre stage.
Stellenbosch host Cape Town City at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday, September 25, looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Golden Arrows on matchday 1.
The Maroons will be buoyed by their CAF Confederation Cup exploits over the weekend as they progressed to the group stages as debutants in the competition after beating AS Vita Club 3-1 on aggregate.
Barker conceded it was not the start he was hoping for in the league after also reaching the MTN 8 final for the first time, which sees them face defending champions Orlando Pirates next month.
"It's obviously not the result we wanted to start off the season in the league. Football can bring you back down to earth and humble you, so it's not the start we wanted," he said.
"We are still positive. It doesn't help to dwell on this loss. We have to focus on the big derby game in our next league game next week Wednesday."
The Citizens have only played one game in the league as well after sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Royal AM in Pietermaritzburg on the opening weekend.
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will be targeting an improved performance when they welcome Marumo Gallants to Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, September 24.
The Brazilians laboured to a 2-0 win over Tshwane rivals SuperSport United last week, having been knocked out by Stellies in the MTN 8 semi-finals at the start of the month following back-to-back 1-0 defeats.
Manqoba Mnqithi's side looked much better in the CAF Champions League as they routed Mbabane Swallows 8-0 on aggregate to qualify for the group stages.
"It's always nice to win and to score many goals because it brings confidence in the group but the most important thing for me is that it brings a lot of competition in the team," Mngqithi said.
"I'm happy that the team is starting to score because my main aim was to try and see this team score more goals and we are [heading] in the right direction."
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are still searching for their first points in the new campaign after losing 2-1 against Kaizer Chiefs on the opening weekend followed by a 2-0 reverse to Arrows last weekend.
Elsewhere, Kaizer Chiefs will be hoping to maintain their perfect record under Nasreddine Nabi when they take on AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.
Nabi kicked off his tenure with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over newcomers Gallants on September 14 to join Arrows, Polokwane City, Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United on three points.
Usuthu will attempt to get their campaign up and running after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Rise And Shine in Polokwane on September 14.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates will look to keep pace with the front-runners when they entertain Polokwane City at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday in the early kick-off.
The Buccaneers battled back from a goal down to beat Chippa United 2-1 in Johannesburg on September 18, although they too didn't feature in the league last weekend due to CAF commitments.
Phuti Mohafe's side are flying high after two rounds, having recorded back-to-back wins against AmaZulu (2-1) and Magesi (2-0) to trail Arrows on goal difference in second place.
In other matches taking place around the country, Royal AM lock horns with Richards Bay in a KZN derby at the Harry Gwala Stadium, Golden Arrows face Magesi at the Mpumalanga Stadium, SuperSport United and TS Galaxy clash at the TUT Stadium and Sekhukhune United go up against Chippa United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Betway Premiership matchday 3 fixtures:
Tuesday, September 24
15h00: Orlando Pirates v Polokwane City
17h30: Mamelodi Sundowns v Marumo Gallants
19h30: Royal AM v Richards Bay
Wednesday, September 25
19h30: Golden Arrows v Magesi
19h30: SuperSport United v TS Galaxy
19h30: AmaZulu v Kaizer Chiefs
19h30: Sekhukhune United v Chippa United
19h30: Stellenbosch v Cape Town City
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