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2020-21 DStv Premiership
30 April - 02 May 2021
Two big games at the top of the standings headline this weekend's
2020-21 DStv Premiership round of fixtures.
All 16 teams will be in action with a single match scheduled for both Friday and Sunday while there will be a total of six games on Saturday.
Maritzburg United and Swallows FC will get proceedings underway at Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday evening.
Thabiso Kutumela is the league's form forward and all eyes will be on him and Ruzaigh Gamildien as the race for the golden boot award heats up. Both strikers sit on 11 goals for the season, two behind SuperSport United's Bradley Grobler.
Swallows will be eager to avoid a 16th draw of the season as they aim to keep their top four hopes alive against a Team of Choice unit that have won three of their last five matches.
On Saturday, AmaZulu will take aim at KwaZulu-Natal rivals Golden Arrows in an enthralling clash at the top of the league standings. Usuthu thumped Cape Town City 5-1 in midweek to move within a point of Mamelodi Sundowns and will climb to the summit with victory at third-placed Arrows.
AmaZulu are unbeaten in 15 league matches and are the biggest threat to Sundowns' stranglehold on the league crown.
"I only have huge respect and a lot of love for my players to be able to do that to one of the best football clubs in the country Cape Town City," said Benni McCarthy following his team's emphatic win in the Mother City on Wednesday.
"They are a fabulous team, good footballing team, they know how to score goals and make life difficult for so many teams. We made them look average, so these boys of mine, they don't know what they are achieving and what they are slowly accomplishing."
Kaizer Chiefs will be eager to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Chippa United. The Amakhosi were flying high after inflicting a first defeat of the season on Sundowns last weekend, but have been brought straight back down to earth.
“Well, if you take your chances then you win the game,” said Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt. “We have a problem - if you dominate the ball and you don’t score. Obviously, the longer it goes, (the more difficult it becomes) - and you make an error like that, that’s what happens.”
The relegation battle is equally as intriguing and Stellies will be desperate not to get sucked into the battle for survival when they take aim at the Chilli Boys on the weekend.
Moreover, bottom of the table Black Leopards will be desperate for a morale-boosting win against Limpopo rivals and 14th placed Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
On Sunday, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will renew their rivalry at a ground where the Brazilians have achieved important results in the past.
Sundowns were held to a 0-0 draw by Arrows on Wednesday and are three games without a win ahead of their tussle with fourth-placed Pirates.
That said, the defending league champions still hold a one-point advantage at the top and have played two fewer games than their rivals, but will know all too well that games in hand doesn't mean points in the bag.
"Maybe we were a bit anxious after the loss against Chiefs. We did not want to lose more than we wanted to fight for a result," said Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
"But as Sundowns we need to come back. We need to start scoring, start showing the quality that we have. Sometimes I do feel that we are jaded a little bit."
DStv Premiership fixtures, 30 April - 02 May 2021:
Friday, 30 April
17:00 - Maritzburg United vs Swallows FC - Harry Gwala Stadium
Saturday, 01 May
15:00 - Bloemfontein Celtic vs Kaizer Chiefs - Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium
15:00 - TS Galaxy vs Cape Town City - Mbombela Stadium
15:00 - Golden Arrows vs AmaZulu - Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
15:00 - Chippa United vs Stellenbosch FC - Sisa Dukashe Stadium
17:00 - Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila vs Black Leopards - Peter Mokaba Stadium
17:00 - SuperSport United vs Baroka FC - Lucas Moripe Stadium
Sunday, 02 May
15:00 - Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns - Orlando Stadium