As the DStv Premiership season comes to an end, there are still some very important fixtures to look forward to on both sides of the table as teams fight for survival for next season and those important qualifying spots for next season’s competitions.
Saturday 13 May
Cape Town City 8/10 | Draw 21/10 | Richards Bay 15/4 (15:00)
Cape Town City still have a lot to play for before their season comes to an end as they fight for a outside chance in finishing third or fourth if teams above them drop points and they manage to collect maximum points in their remaining fixtures. Eric Tinkler and his Blue and Gold Army will look to put the Natal Rich Boys to the sword to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Richards Bay had a great start to life in the topflight, playing beautiful football but slowly started to fall off the pace which led to a string of defeats and poor performances which landed them way down the pecking order and now in a relegation battle late on in the season. The Natal Rich Boys have a lot of work to do if they look to secure their topflight spot for next season. The home win is tipped.
Golden Arrows 13/10 | Draw 2/1 | AmaZulu 22/10 (15:00)
Golden Arrows look to do the double on their neighbours this season and a win will see Abafana Bes’thende climb into the top eight of the log standings. Arrows have had a mixed season full of ups and downs but must remain focused and determined to give the team the best possible finish and something to work off for next season.
AmaZulu have had a season to forget but need to remain focused until the end of the season as they find themselves just four points above the relegation zone. The Durban-based side have two season deciding games left and will need to give everything in their power to secure top-flight football for next season. I’m backing the home win.
Maritzburg United 2/1 | Draw 2/1 | Stellenbosch 14/10 (15:00)
It looks all over for the Team of Choice as they stay rooted to the bottom of the table and will need a miracle to secure top-flight football for next season at this point. Fadlu Davids has not found it easy to find any rhythm or consistency in the way they are playing but need to remain positive and try to finish the season off on a good note.
Stellenbosch have showed a lot of promise and huge character to fight their way into the top six after a slow start to the season. Steve Barker can be proud of the job he’s done and will use this game to bounce back to winning ways after they were recently knocked out of the Nedbank Cup semi-final by Sekhukhune United. The away win is the way to go.
Orlando Pirates 6/10 | Draw 24/10 | Sekhukhune United 5/1 (15:00)
Orlando Pirates are in the driving seat to clinch second spot and come off a massive win after they defeated their biggest rivals Kaizer Chiefs to advance to the Nedbank Cup final and now stand a chance to grab a league double. Jose Riveiro has come in and done an incredible job, galvanizing the team and bringing joy back to the Pirates faithful.
Sekhukhune United occupy seventh spot and are one game away from winning the Nedbank Cup after defeating Stellenbosch in a penalty shoot-out. Brandon Truter can go down in the history books if he could pull off a win against Pirates in the final of the Nedbank Cup and get a top six finish considering where Sekhukhune had been in the start of the season. Pirates should win this game though.
Royal AM 13/10 | Draw 2/1 | Swallows 22/10 (15:00)
Royal AM have fallen off the pace, but the return of John Maduka is a huge positive for the club. They managed to scrape a 1-1 draw late on with Orlando Pirates in their previous fixture and will use that fighting spirit and determination to get them through the final hurdles of the season to finish in the top half of the DStv Premiership.
Swallows looked destined for relegation in recent weeks but have put in a serious shift and came away with two huge wins in their previous two fixtures which got them to 10th spot on the log standings. Musa Nyatama has given the Dube Birds belief and confidence again, but the job is not done and must continue to fight to secure their place for next season. A tight affair is expected, with the draw tipped at 2/1.
TS Galaxy 13/10 | Draw 2/1 | Chippa United 22/10 (15:00)
TS Galaxy have been in poor form, picking up two points in their last five fixtures. The Rockets need to be at their very best when they welcome Chippa to their home turf. Maximum points will be required otherwise they will find themselves being dragged in the relegation battle – a position no team wants to be in come the end of the season.
Chippa occupy 15th spot but it’s not all bad for the Chilli Boys as there is light at the end of the tunnel and they can climb away from the relegation zone if they could get all three points on their travels away to TS Galaxy. The remaining two fixtures could decide their destiny in whether they secure topflight football or fight it out in the relegation playoffs. I’m expecting another close matchup, with the sides tipped to share the spoils.
