CT City-Stellenbosch battle takes centre stage

by Helder Ribiero

Friday Aug 19, 2022. 11:00

The heated rivalry between Cape Town City and Stellenbosch FC will take centre stage, as South Africa’s DStv Premiership continues with a full round of fixtures this weekend.

City head into the clash at Cape Town Stadium late on Saturday afternoon desperate for a win, having claimed just one point from their opening four matches. A goalless stalemate against Maritzburg United in midweek at least put them on the board and snapped a three-game losing streak, but coach Eric Tinkler will be feeling the heat ahead of taking on an unbeaten Stellies.

“We are judged on results and I think I have produced results at the club. We’re unfortunately going through a purple patch at the moment, but fortunately for us we also like the pressure of the situation,” said Tinkler.

The round opens on Friday evening with Swallows welcoming AmaZulu to Dobsonville Stadium, while Saturday’s afternoon clashes see Sekhukhune United looking to upset champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Polokwane, while Golden Arrows will chase a first win when they take on TS Galaxy at Princess Magogo Stadium.

Saturday’s night action features Maritzburg United tackling Chippa United at Harry Gwala Stadium, and an intriguing clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Richards Bay at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Amakhosi have suffered two defeats in their opening three matches and will be under pressure to put away the Natal Rich Boyz, but the newly-promoted club have made a strong start to life in the top flight (seven points from a possible nine) and will fancy their chances against the Soweto giants.

“I think playing Chiefs at any point is a team that we must respect. They are one of the biggest teams in the country and in Africa,” Bay coach Pitso Dladla said of the upcoming clash.

“It makes things worse now to play against them while they have lost the game [against Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend]. I don’t think they will want to lose against us, especially being the new kids on the block.”

Sunday features Royal AM hosting Marumo Gallants at Chatsworth Stadium, and the round closes out with SuperSport United taking on Orlando Pirates at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Matsatsantsa are chasing a first win of the season, though coach Gavin Hunt reckons his team would be a lot better off if they could only sharpen up in attack.

“The chances we had in front of goals which we have not scored in three games, we could have been [on] nine points,” said the United boss.

DStv Premiership weekend fixtures

Times CAT

Friday 19 August

19:30: Swallows FC v AmaZulu

Saturday 20 August

15:00: Sekhukhune United v Mamelodi Sundowns

15:00: Golden Arrows v TS Galaxy

17:30: Cape Town City v Stellenbosch FC

20:00: Maritzburg United v Chippa United

20:00: Kaizer Chiefs v Richards Bay

Sunday 21 August

15:00: Royal AM v Marumo Gallants

17:30: SuperSport United v Orlando Pirates