Midweek drama set for DStv Premiership

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday May 02, 2023. 11:00

South Africa’s DStv Premiership will have its final full midweek action of the 2022-23 season, with seven fixtures set to be played over Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 May.

This slate of fixtures brings the Premiership onto the ‘final straight’ of the campaign, as teams jostle for position before the breathless sprint for the finish line.

With Mamelodi Sundowns long since crowned as champions, the primary focus falls on two races: the battle to end as runners-up; and the relegation scrap.

SuperSport United will be looking to exert pressure in the second-place race with their home match against Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday, while Pirates will have to wait for Wednesday afternoon to respond then they host Royal AM.

“I know how to win and the players we need, but we don’t have the same budgets as other teams and sometimes it’s not pretty,” said SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt. “For what we’ve done, you have to commend the guys at the top who are keeping things together.”

A relegation six-pointer between Maritzburg United and Marumo Gallants is the key fixture for the late afternoon kick-offs on Wednesday, while Chippa United’s home clash against Richards Bay in the evening is another which could have important ramifications for the lower reaches of the table.

“In situations like this where things are not falling for you, you have to persevere and keep going. You can’t have a game where you create so many chances and you are on the front foot but not win the game,” said Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids.

“We will have to keep a positive mindset and we cannot be thinking about bad luck that is on our shoulders. We must start the next game against Marumo Gallants without thinking about what happened in the past.”

Wednesday also features Sekhukhune United hosting TS Galaxy in Polokwane; AmaZulu chasing a second successive win when they host Sundowns; and Cape Town City will cross swords with Golden Arrows in the ‘Mother City’.

DStv Premiership midweek fixtures

Tuesday 2 May

19:30: SuperSport United v Stellenbosch FC

Wednesday 3 May

15:00: Orlando Pirates v Royal AM

17:15: Sekhukhune United v TS Galaxy

17:15: Maritzburg United v Marumo Gallants

19:30: Cape Town City v Golden Arrows

19:30: Richards Bay v Chippa United

19:30: AmaZulu v Mamelodi Sundowns