The race to catch early Betway Premiership pacesetters Orlando Pirates continues on Sunday afternoon when Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs return to league action against Golden Arrows and Siwelele respectively.
With Pirates and Sundowns currently level on 13 points at the top of the table, the pressure is on the Brazilians to turn their game in hand into maximum points when they visit Golden Arrows at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.
Sundowns have played five league matches, winning four and drawing one, while Pirates have also collected 13 points. A victory for the Brazilians would therefore see them move outright to the top of the standings, while a draw would leave the two title contenders level on points and make goal difference decisive.
Sundowns face familiar Arrows obstacle
The clash in Umlazi will be the latest chapter in what has become a fascinating battle between Sundowns and Golden Arrows.
The two teams have already met twice in the MTN8 semi-finals this season. Arrows stunned the defending champions with a 1-0 victory in the first leg before Sundowns produced a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory in the return leg to book their place in the final.
The latest meeting, therefore, carries more than just three league points. Arrows will be determined to prove that their cup victory over Sundowns was no fluke, while Miguel Cardoso’s side will want to demonstrate that they have found the formula to overcome one of the few teams that have caused them problems this season.
Sundowns go into the match in impressive league form. They beat Marumo Gallants 2-0, thrashed AmaZulu 5-2 and then defeated newly promoted Milford FC 2-0 in their most recent league outing. The victory over Milford moved them level with Pirates at the summit.
The Brazilians have also shown their attacking strength, with Iqraam Rayners returning to the starting line-up against Milford and Antonio Van Wyk continuing to make an impact after scoring in that match.
However, they cannot afford to underestimate an Arrows side that has proved difficult to break down.
Abafana Bes’thende have collected six points from their opening four league matches and have conceded only three goals in their last five matches across all competitions. Their recent league results include a 1-0 victory over Stellenbosch and goalless draws against TS Galaxy and Durban City.
That defensive discipline could once again be their biggest weapon against Sundowns.
Junior Dion will be one of the players Sundowns will have to keep a close eye on, while Khulekani Shezi has also shown his ability to make a difference in important matches. For the visitors, Rayners and Van Wyk provide attacking threats capable of changing the game.
Sundowns will, however, continue without right-back Khuliso Mudau, who is recovering from a serious Achilles injury.
The match kicks off at 15:00 at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium.
Chiefs desperate to return to winning ways
Later in the afternoon, Kaizer Chiefs will have an opportunity to close the gap on the leading pair when they host Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium.
The match was originally scheduled for another venue but was moved after a series of logistical challenges. Chiefs confirmed that the fixture will now take place at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto at 17:30 on Sunday.
The Glamour Boys arrive needing a victory after dropping points in their most recent league match.
Chiefs were forced to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Richards Bay in their previous outing, with Lebohang Maboe scoring from the penalty spot and Siphesihle Ndlovu rescuing a point with a second-half equaliser.
The result left Fernando Da Cruz’s side with eight points from their opening four league matches — two victories and two draws. The Chiefs coach has admitted that his team could have taken maximum points from both of their draws against Sundowns and Richards Bay.
That makes Sunday’s fixture particularly important.
Chiefs cannot afford to allow the gap between themselves and the early title contenders to become too large at this early stage of the campaign. A victory over Siwelele would take them to 11 points and put them within touching distance of Pirates and Sundowns.
There is also a growing sense that Chiefs need to turn promising performances into consistent results.
Their opening four league matches have produced a 3-1 victory over Kruger United, a 2-0 win against Sekhukhune United, a 1-1 draw with Sundowns and the 2-2 draw against Richards Bay.
The defensive lapses against Richards Bay will be one of the issues Da Cruz will want corrected, particularly against a Siwelele side that will arrive determined to spoil Chiefs’ afternoon.
There is some encouragement for the Amakhosi camp, however, with several first-team players returning to training ahead of the encounter. Faiz Abrahams, meanwhile, is being carefully managed as he works his way back to full fitness.
Siwelele looking to upset the apple cart
For Siwelele, the trip to Soweto presents an opportunity to make an early statement against one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.
While Chiefs will be expected to control the match, Siwelele have nothing to lose and everything to gain. A positive result at Dobsonville would provide a significant boost to their campaign and could disrupt Chiefs’ attempt to stay within range of the leading sides.
The visitors will know that Chiefs’ recent defensive problems can be exploited, particularly if they can withstand the early pressure and force the home side to become impatient.
Two matches, one big title-race question
Sunday’s two matches could therefore have a significant impact on the early shape of the Betway Premiership title race.
For Sundowns, the equation is simple: win and go clear at the top.
For Chiefs, the objective is equally clear: win and move to 11 points, keeping themselves firmly in the conversation while avoiding an early gap developing between themselves and the leading contenders.
The Brazilians face the more difficult assignment on paper, travelling to an Arrows side that has already beaten them this season. Chiefs, meanwhile, have home advantage but must overcome a Siwelele team capable of making life difficult.
With Pirates currently sitting on 13 points and both Sundowns and Chiefs still having matches to play, Sunday’s results could either intensify the title race or give the defending champions an opportunity to establish some breathing room at the summit.
The stage is therefore set for another important afternoon in the Betway Premiership, with Sundowns chasing first place and Chiefs chasing the leaders.