Arrows test for ‘Downs as DStv Premiership wraps up for 2020

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Dec 18, 2020. 09:00

DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns will face a test against fellow unbeaten team Golden Arrows as South Africa’s top flight wraps up for the year 2020.

Sundowns have looked imperious in the elite league thus far, claiming 17 points from a possible 21, but they could find the going tough against a Golden Arrows team which has yet to taste defeat in 2020-21 and are high on confidence after a 2-0 win over Durban derby rivals AmaZulu in midweek.

The Brazilians also have added difficulties, as they deal with the tragedy of defender Motjeka Madisha’s death last weekend and the need to ensure they have key men fresh for next midweek’s CAF Champions League assignment away to Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana.

“Preparations were not easy, they were tough, everyone was strained not only mentally but also emotionally,” explained co-coach Steve Komphela after their win over TS Galaxy on Tuesday.

“We played with the same ease that we always find at Mamelodi Sundowns. We played against an arrogant TS Galaxy who play with pride and I could see in the last five minutes of the first half we suffered. We [are] delighted with three points and we move on.”

The pressure will be cranked up on several teams this weekend as they look to head into the festive-season break with a positive result. This includes under-fire Kaizer Chiefs, who lost to SuperSport United in midweek and will host Bloemfontein Celtic at Soccer City on Saturday evening, as well as bottom-of-the-log Maritzburg United for their clash at home to Stellenbosch on Friday.

Chippa United also appear to be sliding into trouble after suffering a fourth defeat from seven league matches when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 at Orlando Pirates. The Chilli Boys will at least hope to end their match away to AmaZulu on Sunday with a full complement of 11 players after having a man sent off in both of their last two outings.

Sunday also sees an intriguing clash between Black Leopards and Swallows FC, with the latter still unbeaten and placed second on the log after an excellent return to the top-flight division.

DStv Premiership weekend fixtures:

Friday 18 December

19:00: Maritzburg United v Stellenbosch FC

Saturday 19 December

15:30: Baroka FC v SuperSport United

15:30: Golden Arrows v Mamelodi Sundowns

18:00: Cape Town City v TS Galaxy

18:00: Kaizer Chiefs v Bloemfontein Celtic

Sunday 20 December

15:30: AmaZulu v Chippa United

15:30: Black Leopards v Swallows FC