Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Mixed expectations for KZN clubs in the Premiership
THE return of the DStv Premiership will see KwaZulu-Natal-based clubs renew their ambitions after a Fifa break of “great evaluation and reconstruction”.
Golden Arrows, AmaZulu and Royal AM are all in action this weekend, having concluded their last match days in contrasting fashion.
Usuthu are probably still on cloud nine, despite a two-week break, having hammered Abafana Bes’thende in both league and cup action before the international intermission.
AmaZulu put an end to Arrows’ unprecedented seven-game unbeaten streak in all competition, a dip head coach Mabhuti Khenyeza will have been working very hard to rectify during the international break.
Abafana Bes’thende now face the tricky prospect of attempting to regain their good form against one of the most high-flying sides in the division, Cape Town City.
The Citizens will visit the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale tomorrow (5.45pm kick-off), hoping to add a sixth consecutive win to their record and possibly climb to second place in the DStv premiership standings.
Past clashes between these two outfits have rarely disappointed, with a total of 14 goals scored in the last five encounters, the most memorable being a 4-3 City win back in 2021.
City hold the third spot on the league standings and comes up against fourth-placed opposition, which only heats up competition for CAF places.
Today, AmaZulu kick off the weekend’s action at the Moses Mabhida Stadium at 3.30pm with the visit of a tricky Stellenbosch side.
Coming off a couple of weeks of greatly mixed emotions, Usuthu have seemingly found their groove with back-to-back wins.
Head coach Pablo Franco Martin has been drilling a detailed game plan for the naturally hard-running Stellies side and has made huge mental demands on his players to keep their good run in front of goal going.
For the visiting team from the Cape Winelands, it’s an opportunity to keep their six-game unbeaten run going, as head coach Steve Barker looks to build on their impressive recent results.
Stellies have won five of their last six outings in all competitions, working their way to within three points of the top six teams, while booking a semi-final spot in the Carling Knockout Cup.
Relegation strugglers Royal AM and Cape Town Spurs complete the day’s action today when they meet at the DHL Stadium at 5.45pm.
Both teams have won one and lost five of their last six games, the two worst-performing teams in the division in terms of form.
Royal AM veteran defender Thabo Matlaba expects a difficult match when the two teams meet with Ernst Middendorp on the Urban Warriors bench.
“They have a new coach, tactically and technically he is very good.
“So I think that will make for an interesting game... we are all at the bottom there and we all need points.”