Rollercoaster Results In The Start Of The Final Stretch Of The Betway Premiership

The final, and what will be an undisrupted, stretch of the Betway Premiership campaign got underway in local football over the weekend.

The results were a rollercoaster across all boards as some teams were able to chalk up full points, while others continued to fall short.

So that’s why SuperSportBet looks at five talking points from the weekend’s results in the local top-flight.

Chiefs’ Struggles Continues

Kaizer Chiefs’ coach Nasreddine Nabi was all but expected to rebuild the team this season, while grinding results. But that hasn’t been the case for the Tunisia born coach.

Instead, Nabi is staring down the barrel of missing out on the Top 8, while their chances of winning a trophy in 10 years now rest on the Nedbank Cup.

Chiefs will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final on Sunday, and they could have taken a huge morale booster into that game if they had won on Saturday.

But it wasn’t to be. Instead they laboured to a 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy at home, New Peter Mokaba Stadium, as they remained eighth on the standings.

Riveiro Eye Perfect Last Bow

Orlando Pirates finally cleared the doubts that were casting over the future of coach Jose Riveiro last week, announcing that he’ll be stepping down from his role at the end of the season.

Riveiro is not sacked by Pirates, instead he has opted not to renew his three-year-old contract which is scheduled to expire at the end of June.

The Sea Robbers’ announcement brought a rollercoaster of emotions to all and sundry, given the incredible stint that the Spaniard has had with the team.

But nonetheless, Riveiro is hellbent on leaving the jersey better than how he found it by winning the league. His second-placed team beat Polokwane City 1-0 on Saturday.

SuperSport, CT City In Trouble

SuperSport United and Cape Town City are regarded as Top 5 teams in the local top-flight, thanks to their strides and achievements over the years.

But such has been their fall from grace this season, the Tshwane and Cape Town giants are flirting with relegation as they are 15th and 14th on the log respectively.

After holding each other to a stalemate under new coaches Andre Arendse and Diogo Peral two weeks ago, expectations were high for them to win over the weekend.

But that didn’t go according to plan. SuperSport were held to a 1-all draw by Marumo Gallants, while City lost 2-1 to Sekhukhune United at home.

Zwane Ends Winless Run

AmaZulu had an impressive run under then co-coaches Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi before the latter resigned a few weeks ago.

Since Vusumuzi’s departure, Zwane has struggled alone as his team has blown hot and cold, including losing three games in a row to Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch and Chippa United.

But ‘10111’, as Zwane is affectionately known in the football circles, finally got his team back to winning ways last weekend, beating Richards 1-0 in the KZN derby on Friday.

That win did not only reignite their chances of finishing in the Top 8, but in the Top 3 as well. Usuthu are seventh on the log with 33 points, four-behind the third-placed Sekhukhune.

Tinkler Adapting At Babina Noko

When Sekhukhune sacked coach Lehlohonolo Seema and replaced him with Eric Tinkler last month that caught many by surprise.

After all, Seema was on cruise mode as his team was in the Top 4, while Tinkler was fresh from an awful stint with Cape Town City which led to his dismissal.

But the ginger-looking coach has hit the ground running at Sekhukhune, making his detractors eat humble pie.

Tinkler beat his former side City 2-1 away from home on Sunday to not only win his second game in three league outings, but he steered the team to the coveted third spot on the log.

Bet On Soccer At SuperSportBet

Ready to back your favourite club as the Betway Premiership heats up? Make your predictions and place your soccer bets at SuperSportBet.