Betway Premiership preview wrap: Chippa United and AmaZulu kick off the action

We preview five of the six Betway Premiership matches taking this place weekend with Chippa United and AmaZulu getting the action underway when they lock horns.

Chippa United v AmaZulu

Chippa United will look to build on their recent win over an in-form Polokwane City side when they host AmaZulu on Saturday.

The Chilli Boys have only won seven out of 20 Betway Premiership games this season, but were on a three-match winless run before overturning Polokwane. They currently sit in ninth place on the league standings with 25 points.

AmaZulu, who are still without a win in their last three league, last lost 2-1 to TS Galaxy, and sit in seventh place with 30 points, but from 23 games.

While the Chilli Boys must do without suspended duo Boy Madingwane and Bienvenu Eva Nga for this tie, Nkosikhona Radebe is suspended for Usuthu.

Chippa coach Thabo September said on SuperSport: "This is a big win (over Polokwane) because it really gets us close to the top eight and moves us away from the teams that have been performing well behind us. Four points away from the top eight, it gives us hope and belief that with the games we have in hand if we do well, we can get into the top eight.

Following his side's defeat to the Rockets, AmaZulu's Arthur Zwane added: "Unfortunately, we don’t have much time to dwell on these issues now, as we need to secure results with games coming thick and fast. We are dealing with seasoned campaigners, and you expect them to make better decisions."

Polokwane City v Richards Bay FC

This Sunday, the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium sets the stage for an intriguing Betway Premiership showdown between Polokwane City and Richards Bay FC.

These two sides' head-to-head record shows a tight battle: eight matches since 2021, where Richards Bay edge it with three wins, Polokwane City claim two, and three end in stalemates. Goals are often at a premium when they meet, so expect a tactical tussle.

Polokwane City, under coach Phuti Mohafe, arrive with mixed form. Their last three outings show a 2-0 loss to Chippa United, a 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy, and a gritty 0-0 against Marumo Gallants. They're desperate to rediscover their scoring touch and lean on home advantage to turn things around.

Richards Bay FC, led by Kaitano Tembo, are no strangers to resilience. Their recent results include a 2-0 upset over Kaizer Chiefs, a 2-1 defeat to Sekhukhune United, and a 3-0 Nedbank Cup humbling by TS Galaxy. They'll aim to channel that Chiefs scalp into another statement performance on the road.

Both teams hover mid-table, making this a pivotal chance to gain ground. Polokwane City's disciplined defense meets Richards Bay's knack for seizing big moments, something's got to give in this one.

Magesi v Stellenbosch

Magesi have Stellenbosch in their sights as they look to make it three wins from their past three Betway Premiership games.

Victories over Richards Bay and Golden Arrows, as well as a recent win over SuperSport, alongside a narrow 1-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs, has seen the club rise to 12th place on the standingd with 23 points -  after a number of weeks at the foot of the standings.

They only went down narrowly 2-1 to Stellies in their first-round game in February and have become a far more formidable opponent in the league under Owen Da Gama.

Stellenbosch though will be looking to further cement their place in the top three with all three points. The Winelands club are level on 35 points with fourth-placed Galaxy and just one clear of Sekhukhune United.

They most recently defeated Babina Noko 2-1, after a goalless draw with second-placed Orlando Pirates.

After his side's recent win, Stellies boss Steve Barker said: "I think it's a massively big result for us.

"Obviously, both teams have the same ambitions I believe to be finishing in that top sort of three. So, yeah, it’s good to go into the FIFA break sitting in third position, obviously looking forward to the remainder of the season.

"But obviously still quite a lot of work to be done so we can’t get ahead of ourselves but happy with where we are."

Ahead of the weekend's game, Da Gama said on FARPost: "I think we need to work on two areas of concern. Number one is possession, and number two is scoring. You know, we do score, but we could be scoring more. For example, if you score a second goal, it takes off the pressure more and puts more pressure on the opponents.

"As a result, the opposition will start to open more and give you the opportunity to get the third goal. So, I think we really need to get the combination of scoring right and bury our chances."

SuperSport United v Cape Town City FC

Andre Arendse will kick off his tenure as SuperSport United interim head coach against Cape Town City at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

Arendse’s appointment follows the departure of Gavin Hunt, who left SuperSport United by mutual consent on March 21 after a string of disappointing results. Hunt's tenure ended following a 3-1 loss to TS Galaxy on March 11, marking the end of a difficult stretch in which the team managed only one victory in their last 10 matches, six of which resulted in defeats.

Currently, SuperSport have accumulated just 21 points from 21 games and are positioned just one point above the relegation zone. However, with several teams above them also vulnerable, the fight for survival remains fierce, and any of the clubs within reach could still be drawn into the relegation battle.

Cape Town City, too, is undergoing a coaching change, following the mutual parting of ways with Muhsin Ertugral on March 17. Ertugral, who had initially joined as technical director in January, was tasked with leading the team as interim coach after replacing Eric Tinkler. Unfortunately, City struggled under his leadership, going winless in their last nine matches and managing only three points. The team's slide culminated in a 1-0 loss to Marumo Gallants on March 15, ending Ertugral’s brief tenure.

With the season's final stretch ahead, Diogo Peral has been appointed as City’s new coach for the remaining games. The club currently sits in 13th place, and Peral’s challenge will be to steer them to a more secure position as they face a crucial match in Polokwane against SuperSport United.

TS Galaxy v Marumo Gallants

TS Galaxy will look to further their pursuit of a CAF Interclub position when they host relegation-threatened Marumo Gallants at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday night in the Betway Premiership.

The Rockets have been in strong form recently, remaining unbeaten in their last four league outings. Their most recent victory was a hard-fought 2-1 win against AmaZulu away from home. Sitting in fourth place on the table, TS Galaxy are eager to continue their momentum and strengthen their standing with another home win.

Marumo Gallants, however, find themselves in a perilous position, languishing in 14th place in the league standings. Despite their struggles in the Premiership, they managed a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Cape Town City just before the international break.

Although Gallants are still in the running for the Nedbank Cup, their league survival is far from guaranteed. Nonetheless, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou remains resolute in his belief that the club can escape relegation.

"Every single match is crucial for us," Ouaddou said. "We will fight to the last whistle. There is no giving up - our focus is to stay in the league, and we are prepared to battle until the end."

"We have been working hard to get the players ready for this game. Saving the club from relegation is our top priority, and we will do everything in our power to achieve that. I have faith that if we keep up the same level of determination and commitment that we showed in our last game against Cape Town City, we will have a fighting chance," Ouaddou added.