Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, will be abuzz on Saturday when Sekhukhune United welcome the recently crowned Nedbank Cup champions.
The two sides meet in a crucial Betway Premiership league match, which is likely to decide their destiny regarding which positions they finish at the end of the 2024/25 season, which is nearing the end.
Chiefs, who last weekend narrowly escaped with a dramatic 2-1 victory over traditional arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the final match of the Nedbank Cup to lift their first-ever silverware in a decade, want nothing less than victory over the Limpopo side to enhance their chances of finishing in the top eight bracket.
Missing out on the MTN8 Cup
Last season the Naturena-based side (9th on the log with 33 points after 26 matches) finished the league outside the top eight bracket, thus missing out on the MTN8 Cup.
It remains to be seen if they can beat Dinoko to improve their chances of moving back to the top eight.
Defensively, the Mighty Amakhosi seriously need to improve in that department. Their last line of defence has conceded 31 this season, and that is seven goals more than what they have scored (24).
Wandile Duba is their top goal-scorer with five goals. While Mduduzi Shabalala and Makabi Lilepo are their second-highest with four goals each.
As for Sekhukhune United, who are perched on the third spot with 45 points, they have a score to settle with Chiefs. This after Chiefs registered a hit-and-run victory over Dinoko on January 6 at FNB Stadium in the dying minutes.
Collecting three points against Chiefs will see them open the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Stellenbosch FC, who are heavily breathing behind them with only a point separating them.
Sekhukhune
This as their quest to overtake Orlando Pirates in second place has since become a difficult mission to accomplish after the Soweto giants opened a 10-point gap from them with two games in hand.
And thanks to their departed head coach, who bid his farewell to the club with style after their midweek 3-0 victory over Golden Arrows.
Up front, Sekhukhune are not a bad side, as they boast scoring machines such as joint leading goal scorers Andy Boyeli and Chubuike Ohizu, who have each rattled the net six times.
Their other star players who always make defenders shiver in their spines whenever in possession are Linda Mthambo and Keletso Makgakwa, who have five and four goals to their credits.
That alone should send some warning message that the four players have collectively contributed the 21 goals out of United’s 36 goals scored in the league by far.
Limpopo side under pressure
In a scenario where Sekhukhune loses to Chiefs and Stellenbosch wins theirs against SuperSport, that will mean the Limpopo side will drop to the fourth position.
This will ruin their quest to play in the CAF competition should they finish the season in that position.
Stellenbosch will be welcoming the off-colours SuperSport United on the same day at home, the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
