The new Betway Premiership season hasn’t taken long to hit top gear, and with the top finishers from last season occupied with continental duties, a chance to seize early control will be up for grabs this weekend as the league continues elsewhere.
It could be too early to tell, with only the first-round results done, but momentum and confidence is everything in the long, taxing season that lies ahead.
Lamontville Golden Arrows’ shock 2-0 win over Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night saw them go to the top of the table at the conclusion of the first round.
Siyanda Mthanti put Arrows ahead in the 70th minute, and Lungelo Nguse finished things off with a stoppage-time penalty.
The KwaZulu-Natal side, under the new leadership of Mabhuti Khanyeza, have set their sights on an improved showing this season after missing out on the top eight positions by a single point in the last campaign.
Marumo Gallants, on the other hand, will make the trip to the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban tomorrow (3pm kick-off) on the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs.
The Dan Malesela-led side were decent on the night, but they will want to execute better against a confident Arrows side.
Magesi FC’s debut appearance ended in defeat away against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday, but they will get a chance to bounce back immediately against neighbours Polokwane City when the two sides clash tomorrow (3pm) at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Thabang Motuludi’s stoppage-time winner ensured City’s perfect start to the season against AmaZulu, but with the transfer window set to close tomorrow, the jury is still out on whether Oswin Appollis will still be their player when they take to the field for the Limpopo derby.
Elsewhere, SuperSport United will welcome Royal AM at the Tshwane University of Technology Stadium tomorrow (5.30pm).
Fresh off a 2-0 derby defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns, Matsatsantsa a Pitori will have their mentor Gavin Hunt back in the technical area after he served a one-match suspension following a red card in the MTN8 fixture against Orlando Pirates last month.
They come up against a John Maduka-led Royal AM side that will see a transfer window draw to a close without being able to make any signings due to their ban.
Thwihli Thwahla salvaged a morale-boosting draw late in their match against Cape Town City with a Motebang Sera equaliser in the 85th minute, after Prins Tjiueza put City ahead in the eighth.
Meanwhile, Chippa United’s valiant showing against Orlando Pirates was worthy of at least a point, but a late surge by the home side ensured the Chilli Boys left Soweto empty-handed.
The Eastern Cape-based side’s new focus will be on a Richards Bay team that they took six points off last season. They go head-to-head tomorrow night (8pm).
The last time the Natal Rich Boyz made the long trip to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, they received a 3-0 hiding, but their hard-fought 1-0 win over TS Galaxy last Sunday will have them up for the challenge.