Wednesday | June 2, 2021

The Dstv Premiership League for the 2020/2021 season draws to a close with all the South African premium Football Clubs (FC) playing their 29th game this evening at 17:00. The matches will take place simultaneously due to the implications of the results in the league standings.

After today’s results, all the clubs will be left with one fixture to wrap up the league campaign.

As far as the league title goes, Mamelodi Sundowns FC have won it with three games to spare. This evening will be a mere formality for them. Not so for the rock-bottom teams slipping in survival fights to stay in the elite league.

The are a few tricky fixtures that standout. Firstly, the Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC laying 13th on 29 points face Chippa United FC at on the 15th owing to their 25 points score so far.

Secondly, the 16th-plcaed Black Leopards FC travel a long road to Cape Town to do battle of their lives against Cape Town City FC. For both Leopards and Chippa these are existential matches in top-flight football.

However, Leopards are in a worst situation after posting 22 points so far in the season where 28 games have been played. Theirs are now-or-never meetings to remain in the higher stakes of what Fifa (Federation of International Football Association) the beautiful game.

Those are not the only few directly flirting and affected by the relegation drop though. Stellenbosch FC are also embroiled in a do-or-die duel as they welcome TS Galaxy in Stellenbosch, Cape Town. Stellies have secured only 27 points and are preciously hanging on the 14th spot on the log. By the end of all these games tonight, there may be big shifts and changes on league table.

Although Maritzburg are positioned 12th on the standings, they are equal on (29) points with Tshakhuma. Them too, are not out of the dreadful woods yet. Interestingly, one of the Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, find themselves having to duck and dive the messy daggers of the relegation contenders sitting uncomfortablly on 11th with 30 points.

Suffice to say the team that finishes last at the end of the long-drawn league faces automatic relegation. Meanwhile the club that the winds up on the 15th position will have another fighting chance in the playoffs. Therefore, today’s games carry far-reaching ramifications.

Here are the eight (8) Wednesday Premiership fixtures billed for the concurrent kickoff:

Tshakhuma FC vs Chippa United at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane

Cape Town City FC vs Black Leopards at  Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town

Stellenbosch FC vs TS Galaxy at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch

  SuperSport United vs Maritzburg United at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria

Kaizer Chiefs vs Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg

Bloemfontein Celtics FC vs Mamelodi Sundowns at Dr Molemela Stadium in Botshabelo

Baroka FC vs Orlando Pirates at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane 

AmaZulu FC vs Swallow FC at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in Durban