Pirates, Sundowns continue title battle

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will continue their battle for the title when the Betway Premiership resumes with a full round of fixtures from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 April. Catch all the action live on SuperSport.

After a two-week break encompassing the international window and the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals, the top-flight league resumes at the end of the Easter long weekend, as Orbit College and AmaZulu FC host Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United respectively on a public-holiday Monday.

The Amakhosi (placed fourth) will be looking to build on the back-to-back wins they recorded over Durban City and Magesi FC in the second half of March, as they aim to overtake third-placed Usuthu in the race for a place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

“I always believed that the difficult moment we went through was conditioned by a lot of injuries and suspensions,” Chiefs coach Cedric Kaze said. “When you have important players that are playing regularly two, three or four games in a row, that gives the stability we’re looking for.”

On Tuesday, the focus falls on the top two: Pirates have a one-point lead over Sundowns (having played one extra match) and will back themselves to consolidate top spot with a win at home to Golden Arrows in Soweto.

“The PSL is a stronger league. It’s very tight this season – it’s a marathon race. In a marathon, you don’t have to calm down in terms of rhythm and winning,” explained Buccaneers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. “We need to give our best in every game and take points. In the end, we’ll see.”

Sundowns, meanwhile, face a more challenging fixture away to fifth-placed Durban City – the Citizens are very much in the hunt for a top-three finish, though they could be fatigued from their Nedbank Cup semifinal clash against Casric Stars on Saturday.

A key clash at the bottom of the log pits 16th-placed Magesi FC against 14th-placed Marumo Gallants at the Seshego Stadium. Dikwena tsa Meetse will be desperate for a win (it would be their first since October) to close within a point of Bahbanale ba Ntwa in their battle for top-flight survival.

Elsewhere, Chippa United and Siwelele FC meet at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium; Stellenbosch FC will continue their push for a top-eight finish when they visit Richards Bay; and TS Galaxy will be looking to end their awful run of league form (seven without a win) when they host Polokwane City in the lone game on Wednesday.

Betway Premiership fixtures

Times CAT

Monday 6 April

15:00: Orbit College v Kaizer Chiefs

17:30: AmaZulu FC v Sekhukhune United

Tuesday 7 April

19:30: Chippa United v Siwelele FC

19:30: Durban City v Mamelodi Sundowns

19:30: Magesi FC v Marumo Gallants

19:30: Orlando Pirates v Golden Arrows

19:30: Richards Bay v Stellenbosch FC

Wednesday 8 April

19:30: TS Galaxy v Polokwane City