2023/24 DStv Premiership
Matchday 29
18 May 2024
With just two fixtures remaining in the season, the battle for second place continues to be tightly contested between Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates.
Stellenbosch have a tough task ahead of them as they prepare to welcome
DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns to the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday, May 18.
The Maroons saw their impressive 20-match unbeaten run come to an end with a 2-0 defeat to Moroka Swallows on May 11, although they are still one point ahead of the Buccaneers in second position.
Bafana ba Style edged Royal AM 1-0 on May 11 to go 50 matches unbeaten and they remain on course to break their own record for total points accrued in a season (71) which was achieved by Pitso Mosimane's side in 2015-16.
Stellies head coach Steve Barker believes they can dash Sundowns' dream after putting in a strong performance in a 2-1 defeat to Rulani Mokwena's side in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
"It (the loss to Swallows) is a blow but we've got to keep at it and there's no reason we can't beat Sundowns at home," Barker said.
"A tough task, they're a good team. But I thought we did enough in the semi-final to get a sense for that match. The key is to get back the energy and the spark and push for two more matches.
"Pirates still have got to do the job and they're also playing against a team desperate for points (Richards Bay), so let's see how it pans out."
Orlando Pirates will also look to put last weekend's disappointment behind them when they face TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium.
The Sea Robbers failed to take advantage of Stellies' slip-up after they too dropped points in a 1-0 reverse to Richards Bay on May 11, which arrested a run of five successive wins.
The Rockets' hopes of continental football have all but faded after a 1-1 draw with Cape Town City on May 12 extended their winless sequence to four matches, but they could still finish above Sekhukhune United in fourth spot.
Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has urged his players to keep fighting in a bid to pip the Maroons to the final CAF Champions League berth.
"We are playing for something really important for our club, and that is why we have to give our all, whether we are playing good or not," Riveiro said.
"We want to be in the Champions League next season and right now Stellenbosch are in that position and we want to get there.
"To do that, we have to run an extra mile, all of us. The technical team, the players, everybody in the team and that is the only way to make it possible."
Meanwhile, Richards Bay will look to keep their survival chances alive when they lock horns with Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium.
The Natal Rich Boyz stunned Bucs to close within two points of safety in 15th place courtesy of their third win in five games, having gone unbeaten in their last three outings. The Citizens could still finish as high as fourth, although they have only picked up one win in 2024 and the stalemate with Galaxy left them three points behind Babina Noko in seventh position.
Elsewhere around the country, Sekhukhune United (4th) host AmaZulu (12th) at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, SuperSport United (6th) take on Moroka Swallows (13th) at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, Kaizer Chiefs (8th) go head-to-head with Polokwane City (9th) at the FNB Stadium, Golden Arrows (10th) entertain already-relegated Cape Town Spurs (16th) at the Mpumalanga Stadium and Chippa United (11th) travel to the Harry Gwala Stadium for a clash with Royal AM (14th).
DStv Premiership matchday 29 fixtures:
Saturday, May 18
15h00: Cape Town City v Richards Bay
15h00: Golden Arrows v Cape Town Spurs
15h00: Kaizer Chiefs v Polokwane City
15h00: Royal AM v Chippa United
15h00: Sekhukhune United v AmaZulu
15h00: Stellenbosch v Mamelodi Sundowns
15h00: SuperSport United v Moroka Swallows
15h00: TS Galaxy v Orlando Pirates
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