All eyes on Sundowns and Pirates in midweek Betway Premiership action

All eyes will focus on title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates as a midweek round of Betway Premiership action is held across Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sundowns appeared to have taken a massive stride toward an eighth successive PSL title when they thrashed Pirates 4-1 earlier this month, but a surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of TS Galaxy last midweek has somewhat opened the door for the Soweto giants to get back in the race.

Both the Brazilians and the Buccaneers will be in action on Wednesday evening, with the former away to Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein, while the latter will visit Golden Arrows in Hammarsdale.

Sundowns have not lost back-to-back league matches since the 2017-18 season (a 1-0 home reverse at the hands of Cape Town City in December 2017 followed by a 3-2 away defeat at Polokwane City in January 2018) and Gallants don’t appear likely candidates to break that run, having suffered successive league losses to Richards Bay and AmaZulu in their last two league outings.

Nonetheless, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso sees nothing other than a “long championship” and wants his side to remain focused after a comfortable but unimpressive win over lower league Mpheni Home Defenders in the Nedbank Cup this past weekend.

“The lesson is continue to look forward and continue to work, I’ve always said it will be a long championship,” said Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.

“Not once have you heard me say something different than that.”

Pirates, fresh from overcoming Baroka FC 3-1 in the Nedbank Cup, will feel confident taking on Arrows: the Soweto side has racked up four straight wins over Abafana Bes’thende, including a 7-1 thrashing in their most recent meeting in April 2024.

CHIEFS TAKE ON SUPERSPORT

Elsewhere in the midweek schedule, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United will renew their rivalry at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.

The Amakhosi put up one of their best showings of the season to overcome Chippa United in the Nedbank Cup, but need to be wary of a Matsatsantsa outfit that has gone six league matches without a win.

“I still want to improve, and I still want to win,” warned United coach Gavin Hunt, who would love to put another bump in the road for Chiefs’ rocky season.

The midweek slate also features Cape Town City looking to break a four-game winless streak across all competitions when they host Chippa United; Magesi FC will chase successive wins in the top-flight for the first time ever when they face Polokwane City away; TS Galaxy will put a 12-match unbeaten league run on the line when they host Stellenbosch FC; and Sekhukhune United will look to break a four-game win drought when they host AmaZulu FC.

BETWAY PREMIERSHIP MIDWEEK FIXTURES

Times CAT

Tuesday 18 February

7:30pm: Cape Town City v Chippa United

7:30pm: Kaizer Chiefs v SuperSport United

7:30pm: Polokwane City v Magesi FC

7:30pm: TS Galaxy v Stellenbosch FC

Wednesday 19 February

7:30pm: Golden Arrows v Orlando Pirates

7:30pm: Marumo Gallants v Mamelodi Sundowns

7:30pm: Sekhukhune United v AmaZulu

Richards Bay v Royal AM – Postponed