Chippa return to action, Sekhukhune take aim at Chiefs

Chippa return to action, Sekhukhune take aim at Chiefs
Tebogo Potsane of Kaizer Chiefs during the Betway Premiership 2024/25 Kaizer Chiefs Media Day at Chiefs Village, Johannesburg on the 16 January 2025 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jan 17, 2025. 11:00

Chippa United’s return from a long period of inactivity and Sekhukhune United looking to keep up their excellent form with a win over heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs will headline a weekend slate of five matches in South Africa’s Betway Premiership.


Sekhukhune, who thrashed 10-man SuperSport United 3-0 last Sunday, have put together a five-match unbeaten run in which they have taken 13 points from a possible 15, pushing them up to third place on the standings.


They will look to become the latest team to dent Kaizer Chiefs’ confidence when the clubs meet at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the lone game on Sunday.


Chiefs lost 1-0 at home to Golden Arrows at the same venue last weekend – a second defeat in their last three matches, and a fifth loss in just 13 league outings this season.


Babina Noko are high on confidence right now, especially striker Andy Boyeli, after his hat-trick against SuperSport.


“I’m just happy that we managed to score three goals without a reply and I’m happy once more for Boyeli, you know it has been a long journey for him, in the first season of the league and struggling, scoring odd goals here and there, but now after scoring a hattrick, [he also] scored in the last game [against AmaZulu],” said Sekhukhune coach Lehlohonolo Seema.


“The confidence obviously is gonna go up which is good that even now we don’t have to rely on [Chibuike] Ohizu, putting too much pressure on him and then we can rotate them and the goals will start flowing.”


Chippa United will make a return to competitive football when they host Marumo Gallants at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday night.


The Chilli Boys, due to fixture postponements, have not played since a 1-0 loss to Chiefs in late December, and this match will be the first in charge for a new coaching duo (Thabo September will be assisted by Mabhuti Khenyeza) which will be aiming to drag Chippa up the standings from their current 12th place.


Saturday also features an afternoon meeting of two in-form teams at the Mpumalanga Stadium, with Golden Arrows (just one loss in their last seven league matches) hosting TS Galaxy (unbeaten in seven), while Friday night will open the weekend’s action with a pair of games.


SuperSport United will look to bounce back from their 3-0 humbling against Sekhukhune when they host Polokwane City at the Lucas Moripe Stadium (Rise and Shine are unbeaten in five matches), while Cape Town City’s progress under Muhsin Ertugral will have a further litmus test when they host Richards Bay (one win from their last six matches) at Athlone Stadium.


Ertugral led the Citizens to back-to-back wins over Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in his first two games in charge, but last weekend brought a setback with a 1-0 defeat away to Gallants.


“We played Chiefs, we played Pirates, and three days later you need to come up [to Bloemfontein] – this is unusual, these boys are tired,” said Ertugral in explaining the defeat.


He added, “I’m not complaining about two games, I’m complaining about [Sunday and] Wednesday against two teams – I don’t see any team in this country playing after each other, in three days, against teams that really have a pedigree.”


Betway Premiership fixtures


Times CAT


Friday 17 January


19:30: SuperSport United v Polokwane City

19:30: Cape Town City v Richards Bay


Saturday 18 January


15:30: Golden Arrows v TS Galaxy

20:00: Chippa United v Marumo Gallants


Sunday 19 January


15:30: Kaizer Chiefs v Sekhukhune United







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