Ryan Moon of Stellenbosch FC during the Absa Premiership (PSL) 2019/20 game between Stellenbosch and Baroka at Athlone Stadium on 17 January 2020 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Stellenbosch vs Polokwane City: PSL live scores, kick-off time, prediction and preview
Stellenbosch seek a third straight win in the PSL when they host Polokwane City on Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know.
Ryan Moon of Stellenbosch FC during the Absa Premiership (PSL) 2019/20 game between Stellenbosch and Baroka at Athlone Stadium on 17 January 2020 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Not long ago, Stellenbosch and Polokwane City were neck-and-neck in the PSL relegation dogfight. Now, Clinton Larsen takes his team to Cape Town Stadium to visit a team four positions clear of them.
Such is the nature of South Africa’s highly competitive league that four positions equates to only four points. Stellies could announce their MTN8 intentions with a win, but they could so easily be dragged back down into the scrap for safety.
Polokwane City looked set to avoid that in the early stages of the season under Zlatko Krmpotić, but their form eventually collapsed under the Serbian mentor. Larsen is doing his utmost to revive Rise and Shine, but has only enjoyed limited success.
Polokwane’s last game was a 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows — a respectable result against Larsen’s former club.
Now, he will face a coach who he was rumoured to be in line to replace earlier this season. KickOff reported in September that Steve Barker was on the verge of losing his job at Stellenbosch.
At present, Barker’s job appears from the outside to be one of the safest in an unpredictable league. Back-to-back wins over Highlands Park and Baroka have put the club in a stable position.
Iqraam Rayners will be lost to SuperSport United after this season having signed a pre-contract agreement with Matsatsantsa. Nevertheless, Barker is confident that his striker is very much on-board for the time being.
“We are happy for him‚ he has shown great character in promising us that he is here to stay [until the end of the season] and help us achieve what we want to achieve,” Barker was quoted as saying by SowetanLIVE.
“I said to him he can leave Stellenbosch and leave a legacy after helping us get promoted‚ be the club’s top goalscorer and help us retain our status. So he can leave with a big heart.”
Kick-off time and prediction
Kick-off time: 25 January, 15:30
Prediction: Polokwane City have just one win in their last 14 games, so it is difficult to imagine anything other than a defeat for them away to in-form Stellenbosch.
Bookmakers have given Stellies a 56% chance of success, although they generally only win 17% of fixtures at these odds. Polokwane have a 27% chance of victory and generally win 32% of such games.
