2022/23 DStv Premiership
Matchday 25
7-9 April 2023
With Mamelodi Sundowns now crowned
DStv Premiership champions, the race is truly on to see who finishes runners-up for that coveted second CAF Champions League berth.
SuperSport United will look to get their top-two challenge back on track when they host TS Galaxy at the TUT Stadium on Friday.
Matsatsantsa had held a five-point over Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in second place but have opened the door for the Soweto duo after losing 1-0 to the Buccaneers on March 18 and drawing 1-1 with Chippa United last Saturday.
Gavin Hunt's side have dropped to third in the standings on goal difference as they are tied with Pirates (2nd) and Chiefs (4th) on 40 points.
The Rockets (7th) have put themselves in contention for a top-eight finish after embarking on a five-match unbeaten run before suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Maritzburg United last Sunday. They are level with Stellenbosch (8th) on 30 points and just one ahead of Sekhukhune United (9th), Golden Arrows (10th) and Royal AM (11th).
In Saturday's action, Orlando Pirates will aim to keep the momentum going when they travel to Gqeberha to take on Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Bucs made it three wins on the spin when they beat Richards Bay 2-0 in Durban last Saturday to overtake SuperSport into second position. The Chilli Boys are still searching for their first victory under Kurt Lentjies but picked up vital points in successive 1-1 draws against Sekhukhune and Matsatsantsa, which has taken them two clear of the relegation zone in 14th spot.
Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro is hoping that can continue to build up a head of steam to finish the campaign strongly to qualify for Africa's elite club competition.
"Our objective is to finish as high as possible and that means we badly want to be second to play in Africa next season," Riveiro said. "We are going to go all the way until the end trying to make sure we are that team [in second] in the end.
"We know what we need to do and, hopefully, we are also lucky enough to keep winning."
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs will attempt to put pressure on their rivals when they welcome basement boys Marumo Gallants to the FNB Stadium in the late kick-off.
The Glamour Boys managed to close right up on SuperSport's heels courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Stellenbosch last Saturday, which extended their winning streak to four matches since suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Golden Arrows on February 19.
Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has declared this season as the worst he's experienced at Naturena as injuries have hampered his progress.
"It's not easy, more especially in a team of Chiefs' calibre, where we are expected to perform week in and week out," Zwane said.
"Injuries as well, when some of the players are on song and doing well and it's either if they are not suspended, then it's because of injuries. We had a very difficult season.
"I think this is the worst season since I'm here at Kaizer Chiefs, even when I was the assistant [coach] and even before that when I was still in the development. I don't think any other coach has been in the situation that we are in... we've had so many challenges."
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa remain rooted to the foot of the table ahead of their clash with Royal AM on April 5, although a 2-0 win over Sekhukhune and back-to-back draws with Galaxy (0-0) and Cape Town City (2-2) saw them cut the gap to 15th place to four points.
Earlier in the afternoon, Richards Bay will be desperate to turn their ailing fortunes around when Golden Arrows arrive at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium for a KZN derby.
The Natal Rich Boyz are in danger of seeing their promising debut fall to pieces after the loss to Pirates last time out stretched their losing streak to seven games and left them winless in nine. Vasili Manousakis' side are just about hanging onto sixth place, with Galaxy and Stellies only one point behind them.
Abafana Bes'thende boosted their top-eight hopes with a 1-0 win at Swallows and a goalless draw against Sekhukhune most recently to sit just one point outside the top half of the table.
Sekhukhune United are equally determined to climb back into the top eight as they target a return to winning ways against Maritzburg United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Babina Noko are winless in their last four outings, having dropped points following successive draws against Chippa and Arrows, which came on the back of two straight defeats to Cape Town City and Royal AM.
The Team of Choice will be looking to build on their first victory in six matches as they attempt to put more distance between themselves and rock-bottom Gallants.
Then on Sunday, both Royal AM and Stellenbosch will be hoping to bounce back from defeats when they lock horns at the Chatsworth Stadium.
Thwihli Thwahla were hammered 5-1 by Sundowns prior to the international break on March 14, which halted a four-game unbeaten run. The Maroons lost the Amakhosi last weekend to bring an end to a promising five-match undefeated sequence.
Elsewhere, Mamelodi Sundowns will be wary of letting complacency creep in when they face Swallows at the Dobsonville Stadium.
The Brazilians wrapped up a record sixth straight league title after SuperSport drew with Chippa and Rulani Mokwena's side are unbeaten in their last 17 outings ahead of the midweek visit of Cape Town City on April 4.
The Dube Birds claimed a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over AmaZulu last Saturday to pull three points clear of Maritzburg in 13th spot, having suffered back-to-back defeats against Pirates and Arrows before the international break.
The matchday 25 action concludes with the late kick-off between Cape Town City and AmaZulu at the DHL Stadium.
The Citizens have put themselves in the frame for CAF football after going unbeaten in their last four encounters, although a 2-2 draw with Gallants on March 14 arrested a three-match winning streak.
Usuthu have struggled for results of late, with the narrow loss to Swallows their third defeat in five games. Romain Folz is under pressure to deliver after winning just two of his last 10 matches at the helm.
DStv Premiership matchday 25 fixtures:
Friday, April 7
19h30: SuperSport United v TS Galaxy
Saturday, April 8
15h00: Richards Bay v Golden Arrows
17h30: Sekhukhune United v Maritzburg United
17h30: Chippa United v Orlando Pirates
20h00: Kaizer Chiefs v Marumo Gallants
Sunday, April 9
15h00: Royal AM v Stellenbosch
15h00: Swallows v Mamelodi Sundowns
17h30: Cape Town City v AmaZulu
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