Buffalo City braces for Premiership showdown as Chippa United host title-chasing Mamelodi Sundowns
Andile Jali Andile Jali will be a non-starter for Chippa United on Wednesday evening when Mamelodi Sundowns come to East London.
Image: BackpagePix
Buffalo City Stadium in East London is set to come alive this Wednesday as the venue gears up to host Mamelodi Sundowns in a Betway Premiership match against the local side, Chippa United.
Stadium officials have created a buzz around the event, with posters amplifying the excitement through the slogan: 'The sky is the limit – don't miss this one.'
On Sunday, Sundowns effectively placed one hand on the prestigious Betway Premiership trophy following a resounding 3-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. This commanding win has brought the defending champions within a point of securing their eighth consecutive Premier Soccer League (PSL) title.
Barring a monumental upset, Sundowns need only a win or draw against Chippa to secure the championship. However, the anticipated celebrations will be subdued, as the shiny new Betway Premiership trophy will not be present for a handover at the venue.
The official presentation is scheduled for Sunday, when Sundowns will host Magesi United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where fans can expect a more jubilant atmosphere as the long-awaited trophy is finally revealed.
To underscore the significance of Sunday's victory, Sundowns — under coach Miguel Cardoso — have now amassed 15 points from their last five matches, showcasing remarkable consistency with clean sheets in four of those outings: Richards Bay (3-0), Cape Town City (2-0), Chippa United (3-0), and Stellenbosch FC (3-0).
They are now 15 points clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who are grappling with their own challenges and have five matches remaining in the season.
Chippa's coach, Thabo September, remains optimistic, believing his team can turn around their misfortunes despite being winless in their last five Premiership outings. They lost their previous encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 last Wednesday at Loftus Versfeld. They will now be hoping to reverse that result and claim their first-ever league win over Sundowns.
Chippa are expected to be without midfielders Siphelo Baloni and Andile Jali for the upcoming clash. Baloni, on loan from Orlando Pirates, has not featured for the Chilli Boys since March after picking up an injury against Richards Bay. Jali has not played since February.
September stated his intentions to finish the season strongly, aiming for a top-eight spot while beginning preparations for the 2025–26 campaign.
'Start building for next season, and start using players you want to have or to look at for next season, and get the best out of the two games. Playing Marumo Gallants away, and we have Sundowns at home, so we need to be as professional as can be to finish this season on a good note,' said September.
'Top 8 – if it's possible – we have two games. If we get four points out of the two games, then it's possible.'
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