Sundowns and Pirates keep up title battle

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Feb 23, 2025. 19:50

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates kept up their title battle in the Betway Premiership by both claiming home wins, while SuperSport United’s Gavin Hunt had his 1000th game as a top-flight coach abandoned at half time due to load shedding.

It’s “as you were” in the title battle between Sundowns and Pirates after both claimed home wins on Saturday. The Brazilians trumped 10-man TS Galaxy 4-1 thanks to goals from Peter Shalulile, Iqraam Rayners (two) and Jayden Adams, while the Buccaneers got the better of Cape Town City 2-1, coming from behind to secure victory courtesy of strikes from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Goodman Mosele – the latter returning from almost a year on the sidelines with injury.

Saturday also saw an emphatic 3-0 triumph for AmaZulu FC at home to Magesi FC (goals from Nkosikhona Radebe, Tshepang Moremi and Andiswa Sithole), as well as Sekhukhune United winning 1-0 away to Chippa United courtesy of Shaune Mogaila’s strike, while the round got going on Friday evening with a 1-1 draw between Stellenbosch FC and Richards Bay (Thato Mohamme’s opener for the Natal Rich Boyz cancelled out by Fawaaz Basadien’s late penalty).

Sunday’s matches saw Marumo Gallants and Polokwane City draw 0-0 in Bloemfontein, while the late afternoon kick-off between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows could not be completed due to load shedding, with the fixture abandoned at half time with the score at 1-1.

In Gavin Hunt’s 1000th match as a head coach, SuperSport’s early opener from Christian Saile was cancelled out by a strike from Velemseni Ndwandwe for Arrows.

The match was temporarily halted midway through the first half when the floodlights failed due to load shedding, but was then resumed and taken to the half-time break under natural light conditions.

However, with no back-up generator at the venue, the match could not be resumed for the second half.

The PSL will issue details in regards to how and when the match will be completed and/or replayed.

The Betway Premiership continues on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February, with Stellenbosch FC v Magesi FC and Sekhukhune United v Mamelodi Sundowns respectively.

Betway Premiership weekend results

Friday 21 February

Stellenbosch FC 1-1 Richards Bay

Saturday 22 February

Chippa United 0-1 Sekhukhune United

Orlando Pirates 2-1 Cape Town City

Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 TS Galaxy

AmaZulu FC 3-0 Magesi FC

Sunday 23 February

Marumo Gallants 0-0 Polokwane City

*SuperSport United 1-1 Golden Arrows – Abandoned at half time due to load shedding

Royal AM v Kaizer Chiefs – Postponed