Here is a round-up of the talking points.
The big one
The big one this weekend is the Soweto Derby at Soccer City on Saturday afternoon. It has been a long wait for fans, we are almost in March and this is the first meeting of the season between South Africa’s traditional powers. But that only adds to the anticipation, as does the fact that both teams are in desperate need of points in their bid to try and topple Mamelodi Sundowns from top spot.
Orlando Pirates will move to the summit with a draw as they trail The Brazilians on goals scored only, but Kaizer Chiefs are eight points back, albeit with a game in hand, and simply cannot afford any more slip-ups. It might be too late for them already.
Pirates won a club-record five Soweto derbies in a row before their Nedbank Cup final defeat to Chiefs last May. Before that run, Chiefs had won five in a row against their rivals.
This will be the 184th meeting between the sides since 1970. Chiefs have 75 wins, Pirates 49, with 54 draws and five abandoned matches.
Sekhukhune United target history
Sundowns face a stern test as they welcome third-placed Sekhukhune United on Sunday. Sekhukhune are six points behind The Brazilians but have played a game more. It is doubtful Eric Tinkler’s side have the consistency to mount a serious title challenge, but there is no doubt they have had an excellent campaign and can certainly provide Sundowns with problems.
Tinkler has upset the Pretoria club several times before with his various teams and has a knack of pulling out a result against them. He has won or drawn 11 of his previous 24 meetings with them, almost 50%.
That being said, Sundowns have been utterly dominant against Sekhukhune in the past, with nine wins in their previous 10 meetings and just a single draw in 2022. So there is a slice of history on the line here for the Limpopo club if they can grab a first win.
Desperate Magesi look to big Freese
Bottom side Magesi FC face a local derby against Polokwane City on Friday night, desperate for the points that will lift them off the foot of the table. Magesi have, to be frank, been hopeless since May last year, only avoiding relegation thanks to a burst of form under then coach Owen da Gama that saw them win four league games in a row. They inexplicably chose not to renew his contract at the end of the season, a big mistake.
They have won two of their last 26 league games (D11 L13) and have now drafted in Da Gama’s former right-hand man Allan Freese to try and turn around their fortunes. They have lost both their previous home matches against City and, overall, have one win in five against them (D1 L3). The question is whether they have the players to survive, as ‘vibes’ may not be enough this time round.
Chipping away
The resurgent form of Chippa United has seen them move away from the relegation zone in recent weeks with three league wins in a row under coach Vusi Vilakazi. This has been built around a tightening of their defence, and they have not conceded a goal in six games as they travel to Lamontville Golden Arrows. That is perhaps the first rule of surviving relegation: make yourself hard to beat and hope you can nick something at the other end.
Golden Arrows had lost five in a row before their recent turnaround in fortunes and are now unbeaten in four (W3 D1). They have won their last three, two of those in the Nedbank Cup against top-tier opposition. A draw has been the most frequent result in these clashes, with 10 in 23 games, while Golden Arrows edge the head-to-head 7-6, though they are winless in six against Chippa (D3 L3).
Marumo Gallants sinking
Marumo Gallants are seemingly a club in freefall and if they cannot turn around their fortunes soon, on and off the pitch, then you fear for them. They are embroiled in a court battle over the alleged non-payment of part of the purchase fee to acquire Moroka Swallows’ top-flight status and, in a doomsday scenario, could lose their ability to play in the league.
They have also had to relocate home games from Bloemfontein to Gauteng due to the state of the pitch at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium. Added to all that, they have lost their last six games in a row in all competitions without scoring a goal.
Gallants can’t score, and Sunday’s opponents Durban City are experts at not conceding. City have kept clean sheets in four of their last five games, form that has seen them rise to sixth in the table. There have been two previous meetings between the sides and goals were also scarce: Gallants knocked City out of the Nedbank Cup last season on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and then won the reverse league fixture this campaign 1-0.