JOHANNESBURG, April 15 (ANA) – The Absa Premiership title race and relegation battles will be the focus points this weekend as anxiety among fans of clubs on both ends of the scale build towards the season climax.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits are the two teams that have laid the strongest claim for the title, with just four points separating them and only 18 points to play for.
The Brazilians are preparing to face Jomo Cosmos in Round-25 action with Pitso Mosimane’s men starting to feel the heat that comes with competing on three fronts.
Sundowns, who have already played AS Vita in the CAF Champions League and also Polokwane City in midweek, face a third match in seven days at the Lucas Moripe Stadium against a Jomo Cosmos team battling for their Absa Premiership lives.
“At this point in time it is not about fatigue, there is no fatigue, it is all in the mind,” Mosimane said ahead of the game on Saturday. “Yes, you feel it in the body, but I told them (the players), ‘We play … what is this thing that you are tired because we come from Kinshasa and all that?’
“If we think we want to be champions we must grind it and not listen to what people are saying. We are not tired.”
The Students, meanwhile, could find themselves seven points behind Sundowns by the time they kick-off their match with Free State Stars at Bidvest Stadium later on Saturday.
At the other end of the spectrum, Cosmos have sunk to second bottom with a loss to Wits in midweek.
They have the same total of 20 points as the University of Pretoria above them with the pair four points clear of basement side Maritzburg United, albeit having played a game more.
Tuks travel to Dr Molemela Stadium to take on Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday, with the Team of Choice hosting Mpumalanga Black Aces at Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.
AmaZayoni are presently fifth on the league table and seemingly battling to stay in the top five alongside Kaizer Chiefs in fourth and third-placed Platinum Stars.
Dikwena entertain SuperSport United at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday, while Amakhosi take on Ajax Cape Town at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Six points are separating those three sides and they have Orlando Pirates breathing down their necks, only three points adrift.
The Buccaneers travel to Durban to take on Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday. The other match of the weekend sees Polokwane City play Chippa United at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Weekend fixtures, Friday:
8pm: Maritzburg Utd v MP Black Aces – Harry Gwala Stadium
Saturday:
3pm: Golden Arrows v Orlando Pirates – Moses Mabhida Stadium
3pm: Polokwane City v Chippa United – Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
6pm: Mamelodi Sundowns v Jomo Cosmos – Lucas Moripe Stadium
8.15pm: Kaizer Chiefs v Ajax Cape Town – FNB Stadium
8.15pm: Bidvest Wits v Free State Stars – Bidvest Stadium
Sunday:
3pm: Platinum Stars v SuperSport United – Royal Bafokeng Stadium
3pm: Bloem Celtic v University of Pretoria – Dr Molemela Stadium – African News Agency (ANA)
