Race for third place goes down to the wire

Thulani Mini of Stellenbosch FC warming up © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Wednesday May 21, 2025. 10:51

With each side’s final game of the season approaching, Stellenbosch FC and Sekhukhune United are jostling for third position in the Betway Premiership, and a spot in the prestigious CAF Confederations Cup.

The team that finishes third in the league will automatically qualify for the second tier of continental competition in Africa. Another South African side earns qualification for the tournament as winner of the Nedbank Cup.

Stellenbosch currently leads the race, sitting in third on 47 points, one point above Sekhukhune.

Both Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune participated in this season’s Confederations Cup due to their performances last year. Stellenbosch finished in third while Nedbank Cup winners Orlando Pirates earned a spot in the CAF Champions league as runners up in the Betway Premiership. Mamelodi Sundowns had also already booked their ticket for the Champions League as winners of the league, otherwise they would have qualified for the Confederations Cup. This left one spot open, which was given to Sekhukhune United as the fourth-placed side in the Betway Premiership.

While Sekhukhune were knocked out in the second preliminary round of this year’s competition, Stellenbosch turned heads with their performance in their continental debut. The Cape Winelands based side advanced to the semi-finals, where they were heartbreakingly bested by Simba SC of Tanzania.

Having had a taste of continental competition, Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has maintained throughout the season that his team’s goal is to return to the competition. He reiterated this after Stellenbosch’s victory over SuperSport United on Saturday.

“Overall massive win for us to keep ourselves in contention to achieve what we want to achieve, and that’s to finish in the top three,” said Barker.

Stellenbosch will face a tough task in their last game of the season where they face relegation-threatened Cape Town City at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Sekhukhune will hope that Stellenbosch slip-up and they take advantage against Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Saturday.

The Betway Premiership’s third-place finisher will join Nedbank Cup winners Kaizer Chiefs in the Confederations Cup next season.

By Nic Gleeson