Pro Philani looks back at the weekend’s football action which saw Sundwons crowned Champions of the DSTV Premiership, Maritzburg United’s crucial victory over Galaxy and more.
Mamelodi Sundowns were declared DStv Premiership 2022/23 season champions without kicking a ball when SuperSport United failed to get maximum points against Chippa United in Gqeberha on Saturday afternoon.
The Champions won their 13th PSL title with 7 matches to spare, the earliest they have won a league title in their history. The chasing trio of Pirates [2nd], SuperSport United (3rd), and Chiefs (4th), all on 40 points after 24 games means Sundowns are at the top of the log 19 points clear, and the trio of teams can only get 18 points in their remaining 6 games.
📝 ℍ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐 ℝ𝔼𝕎ℝ𝕀𝕋𝕋𝔼ℕ 📝
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) April 2, 2023
27 years of history has been rewritten with Mamelodi Sundowns clinching the League championship with seven games to spare – a record in the PSL era, dating back to 1996! 👏🏽
Congratulations @Masandawana 🔥#SABCSportFootball #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/DAYzF7o5ih
Kaizer Chiefs won their 5th match in row when they defeated 10-men Stellenbosch FC 2-1 at the FNB stadium for the first time since coach Steve Komphela was in charge in 2017.
Kaizer Chiefs took an early lead when former Stellies boy Ashley Du Preez was adjudged to have been fouled inside the box and the referee pointed at the spot to award Amakhosi’s 10th penalty of the season. The Winelands boy rose from the incident to slot it coolly and made it 1-0 in the 11th minute.
Five minute later, Stellies keeper Sage Stevens was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the box and received his straight red card. Stevens became the 10th player to receive a red card against Chiefs in the 2022/23 season. Kegan Dolly capitalized on the spaces left in the middle when he found himself unpressured to give Amakhosi a 2-0 lead in the 25th minute.
Stellies tried to make a fight in the second half when Ibraheem Jabaar pulled one back, but Amakhosi held on to their lead to secure all maximum points and move to 40 points.
5 - Kaizer Chiefs have won five straight games in all competitions for the first time since Feb 2017. Indeed, Arthur Zwane is the 1st Chiefs coach with a run this long since Steve Komphela. Firing. #DSTVPrem pic.twitter.com/hlGs7fq8Vi
— OptaJabu (@OptaJabu) April 1, 2023
Richards Bay continued their poor form as they lost their 6th match in a row 2-0 at home to Orlando Pirates at the King Zwelithini Stadium in uMlaza. Goals from Terrence Dzvukamanja and Monnapule Saleng gave the Buccaneers a good shout to their quest for a champions league spot in the Dstv Premiership. Saleng’s goal was his 9th of the season, challenging Peter Shalulile on 10 goals, and joining Cassius Mailula on 9.
AmaZulu were beaten by another struggling side, Swallows FC, at home 1-0 a match which was surrounded by ugly scenes as midfield George Maluleka collapsed before the end of the match. Kagiso Malinga’s solitary strike in the 29th minute gave AmaZulu management something to think about concerning the future of coach Romain Folz, a man they nicknamed, ‘Fohloza’ during good times.
FT:
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) April 1, 2023
AmaZulu 0-1 Swallows
Usuthu with their fourth defeat in six games since handing Romain Folz a new three-year deal, while Swallows collect their seventh win of the campaign.#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/wmnhvutDgY
The biggest match of the weekend was Maritzburg United’s 2-1 victory away in Mbombela against in-form TS Galaxy on Sunday evening. Jose Ali Meza opened the scoring in the 2nd minute before legendary striker Bernard Parker levelled matters in the 22nd minute.
Amadou Soukouna had a final say in the tie when he scored from a penalty spot to give Team of Choice a goal in the first half’s optional time.
United protected their lead to give themselves a full complimentary of points since they won against Arrows in January 21st.
The race for relegation battle will be getting hotter in the coming weeks as any team from number 9 can still be dragged to a relegation dog-fight.
𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗡 ✅
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) April 2, 2023
Maritzburg United beat TS Galaxy 2-1 at Mbombela Stadium, ending their seven-match winless run to climb to 24 points on the log. pic.twitter.com/R3hddMPRa2
