Durban City aim to pounce after strong Premiership start

High-flying Durban City will look to continue their positive start to the Betway Premiership campaign when they welcome newcomers Siwelele FC to the Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday evening (7:30 pm kick-off).

City have been among the early pace-setters this season, heading into the international break on the back of an impressive opening to life in the Premiership. Their rise comes after clinching the Motsepe Foundation Championship title last season, which secured their long-awaited promotion to the top flight.

After five matches, the Durban-based side sit in a promising sixth place on the log, with eight points collected from their opening fixtures. 

While five games cannot win you a league title or guarantee a top-eight finish, their ability to grind out steady results has provided a platform. At the very least, that consistency strengthens their primary objective for the season — securing Premiership survival.

Their next test comes against a Siwelele side enduring a mixed campaign. The newcomers announced themselves in style with a convincing 3-1 win over Golden Arrows earlier in the season.

However, cracks have since appeared, with the team only managing to secure a single point from their subsequent fixtures. That dip in form has left them desperate to find a result to get their campaign back on track.

City, meanwhile, are seeking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to log leaders Sekhukhune United before the break. That result, defined by costly defensive errors in the first half, served as a reminder of the challenges that await in the Premiership. Tuesday’s clash offers their first chance to reset and respond with a stronger performance.

One of the driving forces behind their encouraging start has been head coach Gavin Hunt, who has brought vital experience into the squad, evident from the first whistle of the campaign.

Home fixtures will be vital for the Citizens this season, and they have already shown steadiness on their own turf by collecting four points from two matches. 

That run includes a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a well-drilled Golden Arrows side under the guidance of Mangqoba Mngqithi. With Siwelele arriving low on confidence, City will view this as another opportunity to build on their positive home form and strengthen their campaign.

Currently, the Durban outfit are the best-placed KwaZulu-Natal side in the Premiership and with local rivals AmaZulu and Richards Bay FC only in action on Wednesday, they will have the first chance to stretch their advantage as the province’s leading team.

Elsewhere, AmaZulu will face a stern test when they take on Stellenbosch FC at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday evening (7:30 pm kick-off). Arthur Zwane’s men will view this as an opportunity to overturn their poor run of results against Stellies, who have had the upper hand in recent encounters.

The Cape Winelands side won back-to-back league fixtures last season against Usuthu and also eliminated them with a 3-2 victory in the MTN8 quarterfinals earlier this season

Both teams head into the clash needing points. Stellenbosch, bruised after a 3-0 MTN8 semi-final defeat to Orlando Pirates, have already suffered three losses in their opening five matches. Zwane’s side, meanwhile, sit four points clear of Stellies but will be well aware of the threat they pose.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay FC are also in action on Wednesday, hosting TS Galaxy at the Richards Bay Stadium (7:30 pm kick-off). The Natal Rich Boys head into the match boosted by improved form before the break, despite a tough start to their season.

They will take confidence from this fixture, having beaten Galaxy home and away last season with identical 1-0 scorelines. However, the Rockets arrive in strong form themselves, boasting three consecutive victories after opening their campaign with two defeats.