Lamontville Golden Arrows will be looking to the likes of Siyanda Ndlovu to help save the teams' Top8 status.
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Merely finishing in the Top-Eight may not carry the glamour of a Top-Three finish and continental qualification, but it still matters. It serves as a measure of the gradual improvement of the so-called “average” teams in the Betway Premiership.
One club that has embraced that ambition is Polokwane City. The Limpopo-based side has steadily risen since returning to the top flight, securing back-to-back top-eight finishes in the last two seasons.
However, their bid for a third successive top-eight finish is under threat, and they can no longer afford slip-ups. While they currently occupy sixth place with three games remaining, inconsistency has cast doubt over their progress.
Polokwane have managed just one win in their last six matches, alongside three draws and two defeats. As a result, they hold only a two-point advantage over eighth-placed Golden Arrows.
To make matters worse, Arrows still have a game in hand and could leapfrog Rise and Shine when the two teams meet at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Abafana Bes’thende not only boast the experience of coach Manqoba Mngqithi – who also happens to be the mentor of Polokwane coach Phuti Mohafe – but also possess greater squad depth and structure.
Arrows thrive on patient build-up play and possession-based football, patiently probing opponents until gaps appear. That approach has allowed both the club’s and league’s leading scorer, Junior Dion, to flourish as a natural No 9 capable of finishing chances inside the box.
Polokwane, meanwhile, remain dangerous on the counter-attack. However, that style has not been as effective this season following the departure of talisman Oswin Appollis and injuries to several key players.
Meanwhile, Siwelele are also mounting a late push for a top-eight finish after securing their top-flight status. They currently sit ninth on the log with 33 points, just three behind Arrows.
Coach Lehlohonolo Seema was delighted to guide the newly rebranded club away from relegation danger in their first season in the Premiership, praising both his technical team and players for their efforts.
But with survival now secured, Siwelele are dreaming bigger.
Their ambitions include spoiling Mamelodi Sundowns’ hopes of securing a record-extending ninth consecutive league title when the two sides meet in Atteridgeville on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm kick-off).
Although underdogs on paper, the Mangaung-based side will travel to Pretoria believing they can cause an upset. In the reverse fixture, they held Sundowns to a 1–1 draw, while they have also recently drawn away to Orlando Pirates and beaten Kaizer Chiefs at home.
Siwelele may be a new club on paper following the takeover of SuperSport United’s status, but they still possess an experienced squad filled with proven top-flight campaigners.
Gamphani Lungu has been in particularly strong form, contributing a goal and an assist in his last two matches thanks to his sharp movement and eye for goal.
The Zambian midfielder, however, was quick to praise the younger players in the squad, crediting their energy and mobility for helping drive the team forward.
A top-eight finish for both Polokwane City and Siwelele would secure qualification for next season’s MTN8 – an early-season competition often viewed as a platform to build momentum for the rest of the campaign.