Gallants relegated, Chippa survive and Pirates secure CAFCL qualification

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday May 20, 2023. 17:34

Marumo Gallants were relegated, Chippa United survived outright and Orlando Pirates secured second place – and CAF Champions League qualification – in the final day of South Africa’s 2022-23 DStv Premiership season.

Pirates ensured that they were the ‘best of the rest’ behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns with an emphatic 4-0 win away to AmaZulu (who finished 12th), thanks to goals from Thabiso Monyane, Relebogile Ratomo, Monnapule Saleng and Kabelo Dlamini.

SuperSport United were hoping to trump the Buccaneers for second place, but could only lose 1-0 away to Sekhukhune United (with Edwin Gyimah scoring the goal) and came home in third place. Babina Noko finished in seventh thanks to the victory.

Cape Town City claimed fourth place ahead of Kaizer Chiefs (fifth) thanks to a 1-0 win over the Amakhosi at the FNB Stadium, courtesy of Mduduzi Mdantsane’s strike (and a solid rearguard action, following a first-half red card for Taariq Fielies), while Stellenbosch secured sixth spot with a 2-1 triumph at home to TS Galaxy (10th). Devon Titus and Junior Mendieta netted for Stellies.

Eighth place – the final berth in next season’s MTN8 – was claimed by Swallows FC, who defeated Marumo Gallants 2-0 at Dobsonville Stadium thanks to a brace from Lindokuhle Mtshali.

The result not only pushed the Birds into the top half (an amazing outcome given that they were in the relegation scrap just a few weeks ago) but ensured that Bahlabane ba Ntwa finished bottom of the log and suffered direct relegation to the GladAfrica Championship.

Chippa United, meanwhile, secured survival by coming home in 14th place thanks to a goalless draw at home to Golden Arrows (ninth). This saw Maritzburg United (who held Sundowns 1-1 in their rescheduled round 30 match in midweek) finish in 15th – the Team of Choice will therefore compete in the playoffs with Cape Town Spurs and Casric Stars.

Richards Bay and Royal AM also played to a goalless stalemate, leaving them to finish in 13th and 11th place respectively.

The 2022-23 PSL season will wrap up next Saturday, 27 May, with the Nedbank Cup final between Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United.

DStv Premiership results, Saturday 20 May

Chippa United 0-0 Golden Arrows

Sekhukhune United 1-0 SuperSport United

Swallows FC 2-0 Marumo Gallants

AmaZulu 0-4 Orlando Pirates

Stellenbosch FC 2-1 TS Galaxy

Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Cape Town City

Richards Bay 0-0 Royal AM