Busy night for PSL title contenders

It would have taken a brave, and probably partisan individual to predict that a third of the way through the season, Golden Arrows would be leading Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership standings.

Yet as the pair prepare to meet this afternoon at Orlando Stadium, Mandla Ncikazi’s side, on the back of a fantastic, unbeaten start to the 2020/21 camapign, lead Josef Zinnbauer’s stumbling Buccaneers by a point, with a game in hand on Pirates.

Could this be the time for Arrows to start turning around their abysmal top flight record against the Buccaneers? Or can Pirates recover from their humbling at the hands of Black Leopards in Thohoyandou over the weekend?

As it stands, going back to 2009, the Buccaneers have won 13 of the Premiership meetings between these sides, and Arrows a measly two, most recently in 2017.

Arrows defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, however, says Ncikazi’s side are focused on getting another victory today.

“It has been a good start to the season, but are still taking it one game at a time. We had a positive result on the weekend (Arrows beat TTM 1-0) and hopefully that will continue. It is a crucial game for us, we need to get points as quickly as possible.”

In a busy evening of Premiership football, two of the top three are in action, with Swallows FC at home to Chippa United and SuperSport United hosting AmaZulu.

AmaZulu have had a mixed start under new head coach Benni McCarthy, with just one win in four, but also just one defeat, drawing their last match 0-0 with Maritzburg United.

“We must make sure we convert, but you can’t go to SuperSport and not give them respect. We know it will not be easy,” said Usuthu attacking midfielder Luvuyo Memela.

Chippa won their last match under new head coach Dan Malesela, but face a Birds side that continue to keep up title-chasing pace and the away side are likely to find it hard to break down a defence that has conceded just six times in 11 league games so far.