Relegation battle takes centre stage in DStv Premiership

Sead Ramovic, coach of TS Galaxy talks to his players during a training session

Friday Feb 18, 2022. 10:00

South Africa’s DStv Premiership will have a curtailed weekend of four matches across the country on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February 2022, with the relegation battle taking centre stage.

The key clash is the meeting of two of the bottom three, TS Galaxy (16th, 13 points) and Swallows FC (14th, 15 points), at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday evening. Both teams have already enjoyed some success since domestic football returned from its long summer break: the Birds beat TS Sporting 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup, while the Rockets are still buzzing from their triumph over heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs in the same competition last weekend.

“We had a couple of friendly games [where] we also played well and we have to continue because we have tough times ahead. We have 13 games ahead and we are at the bottom,” said Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic.

“So, the cup was a good test for us and, of course, we have to continue to the next game against Swallows, a difficult match. I hope that we will continue and show our strength and keep going.”

The earlier game on Saturday is also a key one as far as the relegation battle is concerned, as Chippa United (13th, 16 points) look for a win over Royal AM – who will be high on confidence after a midweek victory – while Sunday evening sees Baroka FC (15th, 14 points) away to Sekhukhune United.

Baroka showed some real fight earlier in the week to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to champions and runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, and will back themselves to get something from their clash against a team which has failed to score in any of their last five league matches.

Sunday also sees Golden Arrows host Cape Town City, as rivals for a top-eight finish meet at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium for an afternoon kick-off.

DStv Premiership weekend fixtures

Times CAT

Saturday 19 February

15:30: Chippa United v Royal AM

18:00: Swallows v TS Galaxy

Sunday 20 February

15:30: Golden Arrows v Cape Town City

18:00: Sekhukhune United v Baroka FC