2022/23 DStv Premiership
Matchday 20
17-19 February 2023
With runaway
DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns not in action this weekend, the chasing pack will look to play catch-up.
Orlando Pirates and Maritzburg United kick off the matchday-20 action at the Orlando Stadium on Friday evening.
The Buccaneers saw a three-match winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Brazilians on February 4, which left them a staggering 27 points adrift of the league summit.
Pirates occupy fourth position in the standings and trail Richards Bay (3rd) by three points, with SuperSport United (2nd) a further point ahead.
The Team of Choice had managed to escape the relegation zone in recent weeks thanks to a run of three successive wins, but a 1-0 defeat to Chippa United and a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu dragged them back towards danger in 15th place.
Maritzburg are three points clear of rock-bottom Marumo Gallants with two games in hand, while they are tied with Swallows (14th) on 21 points. However, the eight clubs above them aren't safe either with just three points separating the duo from sixth-placed AmaZulu.
Jose Riveiro will begin a two-match touchline ban this weekend after he was punished for an incident in last Saturday's Nedbank Cup victory over All Stars.
Riveiro's assistant, Mandla Ncikazi, who will stand in for the Spaniard, believes he has been suspended for using foul and abusive language towards the referee.
"From what I heard from the officials, maybe the language that was used," Ncikazi told SuperSport TV. "I don't know, what was said was not permissible in the field of play, that's all they said. But I'm not sure what really happened."
On Saturday, SuperSport United will attempt to chip away at Sundowns' massive 23-point lead when they face Royal AM at the Chatsworth Stadium.
Matsatsantsa arrested a four-game winless run with a 2-0 triumph over Cape Town City on February 4 to reclaim second spot from Richards Bay, while Thwihli Thwahla recorded their first victory in four outings with a 2-1 derby success against KZN rivals Golden Arrows.
Royal AM are one of four teams tied on 24 points, although they are last in the queue in ninth position due to their poor goal difference (-6) with Usuthu sitting on +2.
Richards Bay will look to get their top-two challenge back on track when they lock horns with Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Natal Rich Boyz extended their winless sequence to three games with a 1-0 reverse against Swallows on February 3, having played out to 1-1 draws with SuperSport and AmaZulu in their previous two encounters.
Babina Noko had made an impressive start under Brandon Truter, who went unbeaten in his opening five matches at the helm before suffering back-to-back 2-0 defeats against Sundowns and Gallants most recently, which left his side seventh in the standings, level on points with Usuthu, Chippa United and Thwihli Thwahla.
Later in the evening, AmaZulu will attempt to continue their push for a top-three finish when they welcome TS Galaxy to the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The Durban outfit have slowly clawed their way up the table after picking up six points from their last four games - a 4-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs followed by three consecutive 1-1 draws with Gallants, Richards Bay and Maritzburg.
The Rockets trail their upcoming opponents by just one point in 10th place, having held Chiefs to a goalless draw on February 5 after recording their biggest win of the season with a 4-0 thrashing of Golden Arrows the previous weekend - their first victory in six matches.
Then on Sunday, Kaizer Chiefs will target a return to winning ways when they host Golden Arrows at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Glamour Boys missed out on the chance to climb above arch-rivals Pirates into fourth spot after being held 0-0 by Galaxy on February 5, which saw them go level with their neighbours from Soweto in fifth position.
Amakhosi head coach Arthur Zwane admits the pressure to deliver remains a challenge but he's determined to bring back the glory days to Naturena.
"It comes with the pressure of working for a team like Kaizer Chiefs, where people expect the results week in, week out. It has never been easy, even before me, coaches have found it difficult," Zwane told the club's official website.
"That's why we don't want to focus on the past; the past is gone. What is it that we can do now? What is important is to improve the team; make it better going forward and change the fortunes of the club and start winning trophies again."
Abafana Bes'thende were beaten 2-1 by Royal AM the previous day, which was their fifth defeat in seven outings since the World Cup break. That poor run has seen Arrows slip down to 13th place, just one point clear of Maritzburg (15th) and four above Gallants (16th).
Elsewhere, Cape Town City will be seeking their first win in three games when Swallows visit the DHL Stadium.
The Citizens appeared to be on the up after winning three of their five matches since the campaign resumed on December 30. But back-to-back defeats against Stellenbosch (3-2) and SuperSport (2-0) saw City drop down to 11th position, with just a two-point gap to the relegation zone.
The Dube Birds are making small strides under Ernst Middendorp, who guided them to a shock 1-0 win over Richards Bay on February 3, which was their fourth point in two games after playing out to a goalless draw with Matsatsantsa five days earlier. Swallows have lost just one of their five encounters, although relegation remains a strong possibility as they are just three points clear of Gallants.
DStv Premiership matchday-20 fixtures:
Friday, February 17
19h30: Orlando Pirates v Maritzburg United
Saturday, February 18
15h30: Royal AM v SuperSport United
17h30: Sekhukhune United v Richards Bay
20h00: AmaZulu v TS Galaxy
Sunday, February 19
15h30: Kaizer Chiefs v Golden Arrows
17h30: Cape Town City v Swallows
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