Ashly Dhani
Langton Nyakwenda
GEORGE CHIGOVA believes he will still be playing top-flight football with Polokwane City next season, despite the precarious situation his South African side finds itself in with just two games to go before the completion of the 2019/2020 Absa Premiership campaign.
Polokwane are bottom of the 16-team Absa table with 25 points from 28 matches, one behind Black Leopards, who occupy the relegation playoff slot, and three behind Talent Chawapiwa’s Amazulu, who are 14th.
The bottom team is automatically relegated, with the 15th placed side going for relegation playoffs.
As it stands, Chigova’s side now need six points from their last two matches to ensure safety.
Polokwane City play title-chasing Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Wednesday night, in a midweek mouth-watering Absa fixture list that also sees Khama Billiat’s Kaizer Chiefs dating Chippa United, knowing a defeat could leave the title race out of their hands.
“This game against Sundowns is a must-win, nothing less,” Chigova told The Sunday Mail Online on Tuesday.
“We just have to keep going, we just have to keep believing and encouraging each other,” Chigova, who has featured 19 times for Polokwane, said.
Walter Musona and Charlton Mashumba are the other Zimbabweans at Rise and Shine, who play Bidvest Wits in their last game of the season on Saturday.
Polokwane City are winless in their last five league matches and need to immediately turn the corner against Pitso Mosimane’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who trail log leaders Chiefs by goal difference.
Both Chiefs and Sundowns are on 53 points, but Amakhosi occupy pole position by virtue of a five-goal advantage.
Chiefs need an outright win against Chippa at Orlando Stadium, as another slip could hand the initiative to Sundowns – provided they beat Polokwane – and open the door for Terrence Dzvukamanja’s Bidvest Wits, who seem to have gatecrashed the championship race.
Wits are unbeaten since the restart of the Absa campaign and are third with 49 points.
They play relegation-haunted Black Leopards at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
Wits’consistency has been lacking.
Kaizer Chiefs, who are seeking a first league title in a half a decade, are winless in their last four matches and morale seems to be at an all-time low at Amakhosi, whose star player Billiat has lost colour amid allegations that the Zimbabwean – who has not scored a league goal since September 2019 – could be a victim of sabotage.
Billiat’s compatriot and Amakhosi captain, Willard Katsande, has consistently leapt to the defence of his troubled countryman, as Chiefs hope to win their final two matches and wrap their first league title since 2015.
Chiefs were 10 points clear at the top in December but they now lead the race by goal difference and face a Chippa United side that is gunning for at least a point to secure their place in the South African top-flight league.
Warriors striker Knox Mutizwa will be seeking to keep up pace in the race for the Golden Boot when his Golden Arrows take on Bloemfontein Celtic in a top-eight clash.
Mutizwa has netted 13 goals for Arrows, one behind leading scorers Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates) and Peter Shalulie of Highlands Park.
The Zimbabwean was described as a dangerous striker in one of the Absa previews on Supersport Tuesday.
“The Zimbabwean marksman remains Arrows’ main source of goals and a dangerous striker,” wrote Supersport.com.
In-form Stellenbosch, who are home to Warriors linkman Ovidy Karuru, are out to spoil the party for relegation-fighting Amazulu, who have another Zimbabwean, Talent Chawapiwa, on their books.
The two teams clash at Tuks Stadium.
Amazulu are third from bottom and just three points above Polokwane, who occupy the automatic relegation slot.
Fixtures
Polokwane City v Mamelodi Sundowns (Loftus Versfeld)
Supersport United v Baroka (Bidvest Stadium)
Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa United (Orlando Stadium)
Black Leopards v Bidvest Wits (Soccer City)
Maritzburg United v Orlando Pirates (Lucas Moripe)
Stellenbosch v Amazulu (Tuks)
Golden Arrows v Bloemfontein Celtic (Emirates Airline Park)
Highlands Park v Cape Town City (Dobsonville)
All matches kick off at 6pm.
Online Reporter