Diogo Peral has three matches top save Cape Town City the humiliation of having to play in the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. Photo Backpagepix
Image: Bacpagepix
Cape Town City have little time to turn their season around, and they could be staring down the barrel if they don’t do so quickly.
They currently have three matches left in their season, and having only won six of their 26 games so far, they could pay the ultimate price in the coming weeks if nothing changes.
Their fixture against Royal AM has been cancelled after the KwaZulu-Natal club was expelled from the PSL. That cancellation gives City an extra week to prepare for their upcoming clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at the start of next month at Cape Town Stadium.
Working against them, however, is the fact that teams around them still have games in hand — including 15th-placed SuperSport United, who are just one point behind the Cape side with three matches in hand.
As the 2024/25 season nears its conclusion, City face a pivotal series of fixtures that could define their campaign. Obakeng Meletse examines their next three opponents and the potential implications of these encounters.
Probably their toughest test of all. The Citizens were beaten 3–0 the last time they met Sundowns in the Betway Premiership last October.
This clash will be played at Cape Town Stadium, where City have successfully beaten both Orlando Pirates (1–0) and Kaizer Chiefs (1–0) earlier this season. Their task this time will be even more difficult, as during those victories over the Soweto giants, they had just secured the services of Turkish coach Muhsin Ertuğral — who was later dismissed after a string of poor results.
They now face a high-flying Sundowns side on the verge of securing an eighth straight league title and still in the running for a spot in the final of the CAF Champions League. Getting one over on them would be special—but it will be a tall order, even at home.
Rise and Shine have had an inconsistent season. Their strong start has not been matched in the second half of the campaign, and they’ve struggled to secure results in recent outings.
A 2–0 loss to former City boss Eric Tinkler added to their woes, with what was once a distant third place slipping even further from reach. This could be the perfect opportunity for Diogo Peral and his side to pounce on a team low on confidence.
Thamsanqa Mkhize’s solo goal secured a 1–0 win for the Cape side the last time they met. If they are to repeat their exploits from the first leg, they will need to do it the hard way — away from home.
While City have struggled throughout the campaign, their neighbours Stellies are not only flourishing in the Betway Premiership but also making a name for themselves on the continent.
The Cape Winelands side are currently facing Simba FC in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup. They also look set to finish in third place in the league for the third consecutive season.
Adding extra spice to this derby, Stellenbosch could have the privilege of putting the final nail in City’s coffin when the two sides meet in their final fixture of the season.
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