Siwelele riding wave of confidence after Sekhukhune victory

Siwelele FC are a side riding high on confidence after notching one of their standout results of the season—a determined 1-0 win over high-flying Sekhukhune United at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Friday night.

Siviwe Magidigidi produced the decisive moment with a spectacular long-range second-half strike that handed the Bloemfontein outfit their second victory in three matches. 

The result lifted them to 12th place on the table, giving them valuable breathing space from the relegation zone for the first time since the opening week of the campaign.

The Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium has once again proven a reliable home ground for Lehlohonolo Seema’s side, who have collected all three of their league wins this season at the venue. Their form there has been central to their climb up the table and has helped rebuild belief after a difficult start to the campaign.

The signs of improvement had been evident even before this win. Despite suffering defeats earlier in the season, most notably against Orlando Pirates (1-0), Siwelele displayed growing organisation and confidence. 

Their competitive showing against the Buccaneers, who had to work hard for their win, revealed a side beginning to buy into Seema’s tactical ideas. After that game, Seema spoke proudly of his players’ attitude, saying that although results had not yet come, the progress was visible—and three matches later, that confidence has translated into results.

Encounters against Pirates in quick succession, including a Carling Knockout last 16 fixture, which they also lost 1-0, gave Siwelele valuable lessons and a platform to build from.

Even Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou acknowledged their improvement after those games. That development was followed by a solid draw against Kaizer Chiefs, which hinted at a growing resilience, and the win over Eric Tinkler’s Sekhukhune side only reinforced their upward trend. The confidence and momentum gained from that victory could prove crucial as they look to continue climbing the table.

The match was not without drama, as Seema’s men had to dig deep to hold on. They survived a late penalty scare when Keletso Makgalwa was denied by an excellent save from Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, ensuring the three points remained in Bloemfontein.

For Sekhukhune, it was a night of missed opportunities. Still second on the log but now feeling the pressure from the fast-improving Soweto giants Chiefs and Pirates, Tinkler’s side were left frustrated after wasting several clear chances. In-form striker Bradley Grobler was among those who failed to convert as Babina Noko endured one of their most challenging outings of the season.

The Limpopo-based side have now gone three league matches without a win, collecting just one point since their 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows in September. With two defeats in that run, Tinkler faces his toughest spell since the start of the campaign. Whatever hopes they had of sustaining a title push will depend on how quickly they can regain their early-season form—or risk watching their bright start unravel.