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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The business end of the domestic DStv Premiership is on the horizon. Serial South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns are done with the most important business of the campaign – recently winning the league for a sixth successive season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That may be over, but there remains much to fight for as far as the other 15 teams in the Premiership are concerned. This includes the three teams that currently trail Sundowns by a significant 20 points.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs are all on 40 points, with six games still to be played in the 2022/2023 campaign. The trio is engaged in a nail-biting tussle to see which of them will claim the title of “best loser” after another </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-03-mamelodi-sundowns-reinforce-domestic-dynasty-with-sixth-premiership-title-on-the-trot/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dominant display from Masandawana</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The team that grabs second spot will participate in next season’s Caf Champions League campaign. Hence, each of the three contenders is desperate to claim silver – even after being emphatically beaten to gold.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-03-mamelodi-sundowns-reinforce-domestic-dynasty-with-sixth-premiership-title-on-the-trot/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mamelodi Sundowns reinforce domestic dynasty with sixth Premiership title on the trot</span></a></h4>\r\n<h4><b>Pirates in pole position</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Former African champions Pirates are currently in pole position for the prized runner-up spot, after beating top-flight rookies Richards Bay 2-0 to leapfrog SuperSport a week ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sea Robbers’ Spanish coach José Luis Riveiro said his team will fight to the bitter end for the consolatory accolade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The team is alive, the team is fresh, is ready, is hungry. Maybe we are not yet there in the end, but what you can be sure about is that we are going to fight,” Riveiro told journalists ahead of the Buccaneers’ clash with Chippa United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may be too late in the campaign for this fighting spirit – with the Sea Robbers’ 11-year league-title drought set to continue. But better late than never, as the saying goes.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1639237 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Soccer-PSL-battle-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1153\" height=\"1781\" /> <em>SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt during the DStv Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on 18 March, 2023. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>SuperSport in action</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SuperSport – who went into last weekend’s fixtures leading the race for second, ceded their advantageous spot to fall to third (on goal difference) after being held to a stalemate by Chippa United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gavin Hunt’s men are in action against a tenacious TS Galaxy – who have ambitions of finishing in the top half of the table and qualifying for next season’s MTN8 competition. The clash takes place on Friday 7 April, and will set the tone for the Easter weekend action.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, Pirates’ goal difference sits at +11, while SuperSport’s is +9. Fourth-placed Amakhosi lag behind with a goal-difference of +2.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, if the Naturena-based Chiefs side somehow manages to keep on winning while their competitors drop precious points, they will be in business too. In spite of their inferior goal difference.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They face Marumo Gallants – who find themselves propping up the Premiership table, and in serious risk of being relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Kick-off is at 8pm on Saturday 8 April.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We want to continue winning. It is our aim every time we step onto the field. From an individual perspective, I want to score goals that help the team win,” said Amakhosi attacker Ashley du Preez.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1639235 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Soccer-PSL-battle-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2662\" height=\"1508\" /> <em>Kamohelo Mahlatsi of Kaizer Chiefs in action with Zebulon Mtshweni of Casric Stars during the Nedbank Cup last 16 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Casric Stars at FNB Stadium on 12 March, 2023 in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Most penalties this season</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kaizer Chiefs have been the recipients of the most penalties in the league this season, receiving 10. The most recent spot-kick that the team won left the coach of their opponents in a volcanic mood.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-03-31-supersport-united-out-to-delay-mamelodi-sundowns-coronation-as-premiership-champions/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SuperSport United out to delay Mamelodi Sundowns’ coronation as Premiership champions</span></a></b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Kaizer Chiefs must have practice sessions [against less players]. They get 10 players more than any other club because it seems like that is all they play against. Ten men at training and penalties, that is all,” said incensed Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker, after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Chiefs last time out. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Du Preez, what the referees do or don’t do is not in their hands.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The players don’t control the referee and linesmen. They make the decisions. We are just there to do our best,” said the former Stellenbosch forward. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>DStv Premiership fixtures:</b></h4>\r\n<b>Friday, 7 April:</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SuperSport United vs TS Galaxy (7.30pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Saturday, 8 April:</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richards Bay vs Golden Arrows (3pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sekhukhune United vs Maritzburg United (5.30pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chippa United vs Orlando Pirates (5.30pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kaizer Chiefs vs Marumo Gallants (8pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Sunday, 9 April:</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Royal AM vs Stellenbosch (3pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swallows vs Mamelodi Sundowns (3pm)</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cape Town City vs AmaZulu (5.30pm)</span>\r\n\r\n ",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The business end of the domestic DStv Premiership is on the horizon. Serial South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns are done with the most important business of the campaign – recently winning the league for a sixth successive season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That may be over, but there remains much to fight for as far as the other 15 teams in the Premiership are concerned. This includes the three teams that currently trail Sundowns by a significant 20 points.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs are all on 40 points, with six games still to be played in the 2022/2023 campaign. The trio is engaged in a nail-biting tussle to see which of them will claim the title of “best loser” after another </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-03-mamelodi-sundowns-reinforce-domestic-dynasty-with-sixth-premiership-title-on-the-trot/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dominant display from Masandawana</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The team that grabs second spot will participate in next season’s Caf Champions League campaign. Hence, each of the three contenders is desperate to claim silver – even after being emphatically beaten to gold.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-03-mamelodi-sundowns-reinforce-domestic-dynasty-with-sixth-premiership-title-on-the-trot/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mamelodi Sundowns reinforce domestic dynasty with sixth Premiership title on the trot</span></a></h4>\r\n<h4><b>Pirates in pole position</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Former African champions Pirates are currently in pole position for the prized runner-up spot, after beating top-flight rookies Richards Bay 2-0 to leapfrog SuperSport a week ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sea Robbers’ Spanish coach José Luis Riveiro said his team will fight to the bitter end for the consolatory accolade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The team is alive, the team is fresh, is ready, is hungry. Maybe we are not yet there in the end, but what you can be sure about is that we are going to fight,” Riveiro told journalists ahead of the Buccaneers’ clash with Chippa United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may be too late in the campaign for this fighting spirit – with the Sea Robbers’ 11-year league-title drought set to continue. But better late than never, as the saying goes.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1639237\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1153\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1639237 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Soccer-PSL-battle-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1153\" height=\"1781\" /> <em>SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt during the DStv Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on 18 March, 2023. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>SuperSport in action</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SuperSport – who went into last weekend’s fixtures leading the race for second, ceded their advantageous spot to fall to third (on goal difference) after being held to a stalemate by Chippa United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gavin Hunt’s men are in action against a tenacious TS Galaxy – who have ambitions of finishing in the top half of the table and qualifying for next season’s MTN8 competition. The clash takes place on Friday 7 April, and will set the tone for the Easter weekend action.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, Pirates’ goal difference sits at +11, while SuperSport’s is +9. Fourth-placed Amakhosi lag behind with a goal-difference of +2.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, if the Naturena-based Chiefs side somehow manages to keep on winning while their competitors drop precious points, they will be in business too. In spite of their inferior goal difference.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They face Marumo Gallants – who find themselves propping up the Premiership table, and in serious risk of being relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Kick-off is at 8pm on Saturday 8 April.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We want to continue winning. It is our aim every time we step onto the field. From an individual perspective, I want to score goals that help the team win,” said Amakhosi attacker Ashley du Preez.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1639235\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2662\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1639235 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Soccer-PSL-battle-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2662\" height=\"1508\" /> <em>Kamohelo Mahlatsi of Kaizer Chiefs in action with Zebulon Mtshweni of Casric Stars during the Nedbank Cup last 16 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Casric Stars at FNB Stadium on 12 March, 2023 in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Most penalties this season</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kaizer Chiefs have been the recipients of the most penalties in the league this season, receiving 10. 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"summary": "As it stands, Orlando Pirates are in the forefront as they jostle with SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs to see who will claim the coveted second spot in the Mamelodi Sundowns-dominated DStv Premiership.",
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SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt during the DStv Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on 18 March, 2023. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
Kamohelo Mahlatsi of Kaizer Chiefs in action with Zebulon Mtshweni of Casric Stars during the Nedbank Cup last 16 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Casric Stars at FNB Stadium on 12 March, 2023 in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images)