2022/23 DStv Premiership
Matchday 23
17-19 March 2023
The battle for a top-two finish in the
DStv Premiership continues as SuperSport United look to hold off the challenge of Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City.
The matchday 23 action gets underway on Friday when Swallows host Golden Arrows at the Dobsonville Stadium, while Stellenbosch welcome AmaZulu to the Danie Craven Stadium.
The four teams are separated by just four points in the standings, with the Dube Birds (14th) the lowest placed after a 4-1 home defeat to Orlando PIrates on March 3 left them just three points clear of the relegation zone. Abafana Bes'thende (12th) are one point better off and will be seeking only their second win in five games following a 2-1 reverse at SuperSport United on March 5.
The Maroons (10th) have a chance to climb into the top eight as they trail Usuthu (8th) by a single point after holding league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw on March 5, which extended their unbeaten run to four matches. Romain Folz's side snapped a five-game winless sequence with a 2-1 triumph at Chippa United last time out.
Then on Saturday, SuperSport United will aim to keep the momentum going when they lock horns with Orlando PIrates at the Orlando Stadium.
Matsatsantsa (2nd) maintained the five-point gap to the Buccaneers (3rd) with a 2-1 home victory over Arrows on March 5 to make it six matches unbeaten. Pirates bounced back from their 1-0 Soweto derby defeat to Chiefs by thumping Swallows to remain ahead of their arch-rivals in the table on goal difference.
SuperSport head coach Gavin Hunt is keen to experience Champions League football again and insists even a point in Soweto will go a long way to aiding their cause.
"Obviously, it is a crucial game for where everybody finishes, and we need to go in there with a clear frame of mind about what we are going to do and I'm looking forward to the game," Hunt said.
"I think any game is going to be key. Pirates are right behind us, Kaizer Chiefs are right behind us and everyone. So we can't look behind us, we just have to look ahead and that's all we can do."
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs will be targeting three consecutive league wins for only the second time this season when they take on strugglers Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
Amakhosi (4th) kept pace with Bucs after edging Richards Bay 1-0 in Durban on March 4, which was their third victory in five outings. The Team of Choice (15th) find themselves just one point clear of rock-bottom Marumo Gallants following a 2-1 loss at home to Cape Town City, which was their third straight defeat.
Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane admits they are still seeking consistency but claims the footballing calendar is preventing them from building up a head of steam as the international break beckons next week.
"Sometimes results are not forthcoming and sometimes we are blowing hot and cold, sometimes when you think we have momentum there is that break," Zwane said.
"It breaks that momentum... we won three in a row now there will be a break and if we win at the weekend, we will have a Fifa break, so it kills the momentum."
Elsewhere, Sekhukhune United will be looking to get back on the winning trail when Chippa United visit the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Babina Noko (11th) have dropped out of the top eight after losing four of their last five games and they'll be desperate to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Royal AM on March 4. The Chilli Boys (13th) are seeking their first win under Kurt Lentjies, who returned to the helm in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Swallows and kicked off his second spell in Gqeberha with defeat to AmaZulu on March 5.
The weekend's football concludes on Sunday as Richards Bay attempt to get out of a slump against TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium.
The Natal Rich Boyz (6th) were the closest challengers to Sundowns during the first half of the season but they have picked up just two wins in nine matches since the World Cup break and are looking to halt a six-game winless run, which has seen them fall eight points behind SuperSport.
The Rockets (9th) are only a point adrift of the top eight after a 0-0 draw with Gallants on March 5 extended their unbeaten streak to four matches.
DStv Premiership matchday 23 fixtures:
Friday, March 17
19h30: Swallows v Golden Arrows
19h30: Stellenbosch v AmaZulu
Saturday, March 18
15h30: Sekhukhune United v Chippa United
17h45: Orlando Pirates v SuperSport United
20h00: Maritzburg United v Kaizer Chiefs
Sunday, March 19
15h30: TS Galaxy v Richards Bay
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