Pro Philani looks back at this weekend’s football action as Mamelodi Sundowns earn crucial away point, Pirates suffered first CAFCC defeat & AmaZulu registered their first ever CAFCL 3 points.
Sundowns curse to strike Marumo Gallants next?
No team this season has gone on to win the next league match after getting something from Mamelodi Sundowns. Just a curious stat or a curse? Probably the former, but that’s no fun! Take a look at the run of results below:
- Chippa United lost to Royal AM after drawing 0-0 in Gqeberha.
- Cape Town City drew 1-1 against TS Galaxy after drawing with Sundowns.
- SuperSport United lost to Sekhukhune after salvaging a 2-2 draw against the log leaders.
- Stellenbosch lost to SuperSport, after drawing 1-1 with Sundowns.
- AmaZulu lost to Pirates, after beating Sundowns 1-0 in Durban.
- Baroka lost 4-0 against Sekhukhune after drawing 1-1 against Sundowns.
No team this season has gone on to win the next league match after getting something from Sundowns
— Pro Philani (@prophilani) February 20, 2022
Chippa lost to Spice People.
CT City drew vs Galaxy.
SSU lost to Sekhukhune.
Stellies lost to SSU.
AmaZulu lost to Pirates.
Baroka lost to Sekhukhune.
Gallants still to play
Why?
Sekhukhune Thrash Baroka, Arrows lose to CTC
Baroka caught an absolute hiding this weekend following an excellent draw with Sundowns earlier in the week. Sekhukhune are a newly promoted side from the GladAfrica Championship and have proved to be a tough nut to crack in the DStv Premiership.
Nigerian sniper, Chibuike Ohizu, netted a brace with Justin Shonga and Vusumuzi Mncube both netting their first goals for the club, helping Sekhukhune move to sixth on the log with the 4-0 win.
Golden Arrows were beaten 1-0 at the Princess Magogo Stadium by Cape Town City thanks to Khanyisa Mayo’s sweet left foot.
Chippa United remained winless at home when they squandered a 2-0 lead against league newcomers Royal AM. New man Mxolisi Macuphu scored a brace to salvage a point which moved ‘Spice People’ third on the log with 30 points.
Swallows FC were dealt a huge blow when they were beaten by a resurgent TS Galaxy 1-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium. Swallows FC, a club facing many off-the-field challenges could see themselves in trouble of being relegated if the boardroom situations involving alleged unpaid salaries don’t change.
TS Galaxy hold on for a 1-0 victory over Swallows courtesy of an Augustine Kwem goal to move out of the #DStvPrem relegation zone 🚀 pic.twitter.com/mfksmNIIi8
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) February 19, 2022
CAFCL and CAFCC
AmaZulu earned their first-ever CAF Champions League points when they defeated Horoya AC of Guinea 1-0 through a cheeky finish by Luvuyo Memela at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Usuthu coach Benni McCarthy was pleased with his charges’ performance and was not fazed by Horoya’s experience in the CAFCL. In their debut CAFCL season, AmaZulu kickstarted the group stages campaign with a 1-0 loss to Raja Casablanca in Morocco.
Currently, Usuthu are joint second with their next opponents, ES Setif, of Algeria at the Moses Mabhida Stadium before the return leg against the same opposition in Algeria.
Missed opportunities cost Sundowns maximum points when they drew 0-0 in Cairo against Al Merreikh of Sudan. The Brazilians still top their group with 4 points, while the other three teams, Al Ahly, Al Merrikh and Al Hilal all tied on a point apiece.
Sundowns have back-to-back fixtures against the defending champions Al Ahly and could see another dramatic return of Pitso Mosimane in South Africa. Mosimane was insulted by a group of Sundowns fans outside Lucas Moripe stadium when Al Ahly last visited in the quarter-finals of the 2020/21 campaign second leg.
Orlando Pirates were humbled in Libya when they went down 3-2 to Al Ittihad Tripoli. This defeat came just after Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi suggested the DStv Premiership is maybe bigger than AFCON.
With such a bold statement, one would have expected the Ncikazi led side to dominate and come out with three points in Libya, but it wasn’t to be, despite a Bandile Shandu brace in the first half.
Historic win for AmaZulu, Royal AM coming back from two goals down to get a draw, Sikhukhune sadedela induka kanzima. Steph Curry winning NBA All-Stars Game MVP
— Philani (@Manp_PD) February 21, 2022
