DStv Premiership resumes after AFCON break

The DStv Premiership is due to re-start on Friday, 16 February, a few days later than originally scheduled after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) postponed midweek fixtures due to Bafana Bafana’s late arrival back from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ivory Coast.

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According to the PSL website, a full 48 days will have passed between Cape Town City’s 2-0 derby win over Cape Town Spurs on New Year’s eve and the meeting between SuperSport United and Stellenbosch FC on Friday at 19:00.

A reminder for those who may have forgotten, this is where we sit in the 2023/24 campaign.

UNSTOPPABLE FORCE

With the three ‘free’ points they received after Moroka Swallows failed to honour their fixture in late December, Mamelodi Sundowns now hold a nine-point lead over Cape Town City and SuperSport United – and also have two games in hand.

Two draws in their final three games to end 2023 blotted their superb season a little, but the reality is that Masandawana will remain unbeaten in 38 DStv Premiership matches (W30, D8) spanning an incredible 534 days by the time they host Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 17 February.

Kick-off is at 20:00.

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Mamelodi Sundowns last lost in the league at SuperSport United on 2 September, 2022, when they went down 2-1.

Only the most optimistic of rival fans will believe they can be reeled in, but Orlando Pirates could set the tone for a collapse if they win at the weekend.

That would move them to within 10 points of Mamelodi Sundowns, but also having played two games more.

The reality is that it would take something extraordinary for Mamelodi Sundowns to be knocked off their perch this season – not only for them to go on a massive losing streak, but also for the chasing pack to find the consistency to make up the ground.

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