Saturday | May 25, 2024
The curtain closes on the final lap of the 2023/2024 DStv Premiership season, the highest football league in SouthAfrica.
All the 16 Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches will play simultaneously this afternoon at 15h00.
Crystalizing record points
At the summit of the log looking to stretch record points per season are usual suspects Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (FC).
Perfectly perched at the pinnacle of the table with 73 points, the Brazilians welcome Cape Town City FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
On the other hand, The Citizens are 7th in league standing. A win for them will improve to 4th provided everything else remains unchanged.
Meanwhile a loss will not affect their current place. The final position will be confirmed at the end.
Sundowns have secured the league title with a few famss to spare. This is the historic seventh in a row in the PSL.
The battle for 2nd spot
An exhilarating 2nd league position finish between Stellenbosch FC currently on 50 points and Orlando Pirates FC on 49 points looms large.
Stellies [Stellenbosch] travel to Richards Bay United FC in Durban. In the same vein, the Buccaneers [Pirates] are home to SuperSport United FC in Soweto, Johannesburg.
Top-8 finish
An intriguing 5-team fierce fight for the 8th spot in the league is up for grabs.
Presently held by Kaizer Chiefs FC on 36 points due to goal advantage, AmaZulu FC, 9th, and Polokwane City FC, 10th, are breathing down their neck with the same number of points.
Then there are Golden Arrows FC lying 11th on 35 points as well as Chippa United FC occupying the 12th spot with 34 points.
The outcomes of these five PSL clubs carry far-reaching permutations as far as the 8th spot is concerned.
The drop zone
To tail it up, Richards Bay FC will be trying one more time to get maximum points to avoid the play-offs. They are placed 15th on the log with 27 points, just three points behind Royal AM. A draw for the latter will be sufficient to save them from the drop zone.
Cape Town Spurs have been relegated in the elite league outright. They lie bottom with merely 20 points after 29 games.
Although today’s results against Chiefs may affect and shape the 8th position, they are inconsequential regarding their own league standings.
The golden-boot award
Pertaining to the top-scorer of the season, Pirates’ red-hot goal poacher Tshegofatso Mabaso is leading with 15 league goals. Hot on his heels is the Stellies striker Iqraam Rayners with 14 goals.
Saturday, May 25 DStv Premiership Fixtures:
Mamelodi Sundowns FC vs Cape Town City FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) – 15h00
Orlando Pirates FC vs SuperSport United FC at Orlando Stadium (Soweto) – 15h00
Richards Bay United FC vs Stellenbosch FC at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium (Durban) – 15
Swallows FC vs Royal AM at Dobsonville Stadium (Soweto) – 1500
Chippa United FC vs Sekhukhune United FC at Buffalo City Stadium (East London) – 15h00
Polokwane City FC vs TS Galaxy FC at Old-Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) – 15h00
AmaZulu FC vs Golden Arrows FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) – 15h00
Cape Town Spurs FC vs Kaizer Chiefs FC at DHL Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) – 15h00