Bucs v ‘Downs headlines DStv Premiership action this weekend

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Sep 24, 2021. 08:59

The heavyweight meeting of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will headline the DStv Premiership action this weekend, with eight matches scheduled to run from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 September.

Pirates have hit fine form of late, racking up back-to-back wins over Swallows FC and Chippa United to suggest that they are finding their identity under the interim co-coaching team of Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids.

Yet they will face the sternest possible test of their title credentials against the reigning champions, with Sundowns topping the log after three wins from four matches. In fact, the Brazilians have yet to even concede a goal in league action this season.

“We try to make sure that we look to play a perfect game and we speak about it all the time. And, of course, perfection does not exist but the desire to want to be perfect is very important, because when you chase perfection, even when you don’t attain it, you reach a level of excellence and that is what we want,” said ‘Downs co-coach Rulani Mokwena.

The weekend’s action gets underway on Friday with Swallows FC and Cape Town City looking to brush off heavy defeats from last weekend – the Birds and the Citizens were each beaten 3-0, by SuperSport United and Stellenbosch FC respectively – while Saturday afternoon also features Sekhukhune United at home to Golden Arrows and AmaZulu welcoming Baroka FC to Durban.

The early-evening games on Saturday see both Stellenbosch and SuperSport looking to continue their strong form, with home matches against Chippa United and Maritzburg United respectively.

Sunday opens with Royal AM chasing a hat-trick of wins when they welcome TS Galaxy to the Chatsworth Stadium, before the round wraps up with an early-evening clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in which Kaizer Chiefs will be under pressure to get a win against league newcomers Marumo Gallants.

Chiefs have suffered back-to-back defeats in the league and coach Stuart Baxter even apologised after last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Royal. “It’s not good enough and it’s embarrassing and I apologise to the supporters. We’re back to the same old,” lamented the Englishman.

DStv Premiership weekend fixtures

Friday 24 September

17:00: Swallows FC v Cape Town City

Saturday 25 September

15:00: Sekhukhune United v Golden Arrows

15:00: AmaZulu v Baroka FC

15:00: Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns

17:00: Stellenbosch FC v Chippa United

17:00: SuperSport United v Maritzburg United

Sunday 26 September

15:00: Royal AM v TS Galaxy

17:00: Marumo Gallants v Kaizer Chiefs