Stellenbosch hope to maintain unbeaten run

Stellenbosch FC could increase their unbeaten streak in the Betway Premiership to eight matches this weekend as they prepare to take on Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday evening.

Kick-off is at 5:45pm (CAT, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Despite a largely inconsistent run of results by their standards, Stellenbosch have not lost a game in the league since the 7th of February where they recorded a 1-0 defeat against Kaizer Chiefs on home soil.

Since then, Stellies’ bagged three wins and four draws as they enter their next match in 4th position on the log.

Babina Noko on the other hand, recorded a mixed bag of results in the Betway Premiership in the last couple of months.

Now led by Eric Tinkler, Sekhukhune jotted down three wins and two losses in their last five league fixtures. The Limpopo side saw out a 2-1 win against Marumo Gallants earlier this week and subsequently leapfrogged their upcoming opponents to 3rd on the table.

WHAT WAS SAID

Speaking on his side’s recent 0-0 draw with Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker expressed that the Cape Winelands side need to win consecutively if they want to challenge at the top of the table.

“Sometimes, the one thing I do when I get home when we've drawn a game and I am a little bit down and my family say ‘but at least you didn’t lose’ and I’d say ‘but we lost two points...’ Today is a different story,” Barker said.

“I think it was a point gained, considering the circumstances and playing with 10 men for as long as we had to. So, I think it's a really good point for us against a very good team. It just keeps a little bit of a mini unbeaten run [in the league], now it goes to six, three wins and three draws.

“For us to challenge and be in the top three, which is our ambition, we just need to go on those sorts of runs, where you remain unbeaten and get back-to-back wins when you can. It felt like a victory.”

Then, it was news that made headlines in PSL football in the last 24 hours, Sekhukhune confirmed that the game will take place at the newly revamped Peter Mokaba Stadium.

“Babina Noko family, we've got great news. We'll be facing Stellenbosch FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, this Sunday. We'll be officially reopening, the recently revamped venue,” Babina Noko revealed on social media.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sekhukhune United: Chibuike Ohizu – Ohizu is perhaps the most confident striker in Limpopo currently, after netting the winner against Gallants on Wednesday night. The powerful forward will no doubt hope to do the same against Stellenbosch this weekend.

Stellenbosch FC: Ashley Cupido – Yet to fully make an impact at Stellies, Cupido has earned Barker’s trust nonetheless. The former Cape Town Spurs attacker is a threat in and around the area, and needs no less than a yard to cause damage in the final third.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Last five league results:

2022/23 Sekhukhune 1-1 Stellenbosch

2022/23 Stellenbosch 0-1 Sekhukhune

2023/24 Stellenbosch 0-0 Sekhukhune

2023/24 Sekhukhune 1-1 Stellenbosch

2024/25 Stellenbosch 1-1 Sekhukhune