Top 5 upcoming sporting events of the weekend


By Neo Poho

The third weekend of May will see the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season come to an end as Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United fight for the CAF Champions League spot, Sundowns also welcome Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League and City can be crowned champions with a victory over Chelsea.

1. Pirates travel to KZN with a champions league spot up for grabs 

Orlando Pirates players during their training session

Orlando Pirates travel to KZN for a date with AmaZulu in their last DStv Premiership match of the season at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Coming from a disappointing 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune United in the penultimate match of the season last weekend, Pirates will be aiming to end the season on a high note by defeating AmaZulu to retain the second spot in the league.

A victory for the Sea Robbers will automatically take the team to next season's CAF Champions League alongside Mamelodi Sundowns however, a defeat or a draw against AmaZulu while SuperSport United wins its encounter against Sekhukhune United, Pirates will move to the third spot where they will play in the CAF Confederations Cup next season.

Both Pirates and SuperSport United have 51 points each from 29 games with Pirates having a superior goal difference.

2. Kaizer Chiefs are looking to redeem themselves against Cape Town City

Kaizer Chiefs players during their training session

In another disappointing season for the Glamour Boys, Kaizer Chiefs will be aiming to conclude the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season with a victory against Cape Town City on Saturday afternoon at the FNB Stadium.

Heading into the clash at the back of three consecutive defeats in all competitions, Chiefs are occupying the fourth spot on the log standings with 44 points after 29 games having won 13, drawing five, and losing 11.

Despite another difficult season that has seen the club's trophy drought continue, head coach Arthur Zwane is optimistic that the team will bounce back and reclaim the glory days soon.

"It's been a learning season, a very difficult one but also a season that one can say from a new squad and new technical team, it was not bad at all and we are looking to improve things and get better.

We want to make things better and most definitely, the time will come when our fans will be happy again, they will definitely forget about days like these, we are just facing hiccups and challenges here and there but things will work out," Zwane said.

Kick-off at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon is 15:00 o'clock.

3. CAF Champions League semi-final tie is on the horizon 

Mamelodi Sundowns players during their warm-up

Mamelodi Sundowns host Wydad Casablanca at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon looking to book a spot in the CAF Champions League final.

The two African giants meet in the second leg of the semi-final tie of the CAF Champions League at the back of a 0-0 draw in the first leg last weekend at the Stade Mohammed V.

Heading into the encounter on Saturday, Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena is confident that his side can emerge victorious on home soil.

"We are still focused ahead of the second leg in Pretoria, we know that we will have the ammunition behind us, we will have a stadium that now knows how to play Champions League matches and push this team.

We are hoping to get an early goal to break the 0-0 dreadlock and there is that belief that a goal will eventually come however, we have to be very patient and that patience is not just for the team and the players on the pitch, it's also going to be for the crowd and the supporters," Mokwena said.

Mokwena furthermore reiterated that his troops should also have the right mental approach towards the game in order to come out victorious and reach the final for the third time.

"The mentality, as I have said in the past, is that we try to win every game, every single pass, every single training session, every single small-sided game, and that mentality hopefully is what has carried us to where we are.

I am hoping that will be the same mentality that we will demonstrate up until the end of the season, particularly in this clash," Mokwena added.

Kick-off at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday is 15:00.

4. Manchester City can be crowned champions if they beat Chelsea on Sunday

Manchester City players celebrating a goal

Fresh from defeating Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday night, Manchester City will now turn their attention to the English Premier League.

City can be crowned champions if they beat Chelsea at home on Sunday but they can also be champions if Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Holding a four-point lead at the top of the English Premier League after 35 games, City will look to wrap up the season as early as possible in order to prepare for the upcoming FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals.

Chasing a league treble, Pep Guardiola's side will meet Manchester United in the FA Cup final on the 3rd of June before heading to Istanbul for the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan.

A win against Chelsea will also mean that City would have won the championship title for the third consecutive time and fifth overall under Guardiola.

5. Currie Cup continues 

The Natal Sharks players during their training session

Second-place Pumas will travel to the Athlone Stadium to play against the Western Province in the latest round of the 2023 Currie Cup on Friday evening.

The side from Cape Town will be glad to have Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis, lock Connor Evans, and centre Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu all come into the starting XV having featured for the defending Vodacom United Rugby Championship winners, the DHL Stormers against Connacht at Cape Town Stadium last week.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is at the inside centre and forms a midfield partnership with Cornel Smit, while Godlen Masimla makes his return from injury at scrumhalf at Athlone Stadium.

Meanwhile, in another match on Friday night, the Natal Sharks will face the Free State Cheetahs at the Kings Park Stadium.

On Saturday the Griffons will welcome the Griquas at the North Harbour Stadium while fresh from defeating the Free State Cheetahs last week, the Golden Lions will host the Blue Bulls at the Emirates Stadium.

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