A night to forget for Mondli Mbanjwa? Despite his tireless work rate, Mbanjwa, left, was one of several Usuthu stars who struggled to find the clinical edge at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Image: BackpagePix
With just three games to go for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership, the three KwaZulu-Natal teams inside the top 8 are either fighting to go to Africa or confirm their seat in the MTN8 next season.
The underdog, however, Durban City, has already bagged a piece of silverware this season after winning the Nedbank Cup — becoming the first KZN team to do so.
But their league performance has seen slips lately, with a recent form of three losses and two draws — Durban are in desperate need of a win to stay inside the top 8 or risk getting cut.
Durban City
The road only gets more thorny ahead though, as Stellenbosch travel to Chatsworth Stadium for a 7.30pm kick off to decide whether or not Durban can stay inside the top 8.
There's a heap of pressure on their shoulders to deliver and finish the season on a high note but its also up to their counterpart Golden Arrows — who take on Polokwane City. Both Arrows and Polokwane are inside the top 8 with a single point separating the three teams.
For Durban, Sekhukhune United taking on Kaizer Chiefs will be good news should they overcome Stellies and hope for a draw between Arrows and Polokwane.
But focusing on other teams delivering a result is never a good strategy, especially with so much on the line.
Coming off a tough 2-2 draw against Siwelele away though, Durban have proved they are not an easy side to beat — even on the road. They've been superior to Stellenbosch this season but what makes it even more interesting is Gavin Hunt returning to Chatsworth Stadium to battle his former team.
This won't just be a test for the boys in blue, but also one for Pitso Dladla — to see if he outgrew the shadow of Gavin Hunt and has blossomed into the PSL coach fans and management hope he is.
Dladla started the season coaching as Hunt's assistant before the PSL veteran coach was sacked from the club and found a home at Stellenbosch.
AmaZulu
Meanwhile, AmaZulu's Arthur Zwane still believes he can make the top 3 with three games to go. They travel to Rustenberg in the North West to take on Orbit College at home on Sunday at 3pm where they can hopefully seal 3 points.
Best case scenario — Kaizer Chiefs draw with Sekhukhune, then AmaZulu will severe the point gap down to two, with two games to go. Nail biting stuff but Zwane was composed about it after their draw against Arrows on Wednesday night.
"I still believe we can finish inside the top 3. It's not impossible and if we are meant to get there, we will. Spiritually, we are very strong as a team," Zwane said.
Zwane can't be all that composed inside though, knowing Sekhukhune are just a point behind them and the fourth spot AmaZulu have occupied for over four months now.
Golden Arrows
Golden Arrows position seems to be the least under threat — with Siwelele trailing by three points. They are also in the best position to make a last push into the top 8, for a better finish. If all goes well, they could finish the league in fifth place. A long shot — but still possible given City's league form and AmaZulu's away form.
Arrows take on a determined Polokwane City at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Saturday at 3pm in what promises to be an exciting game, in addition to the Durban City-Stellies encounter.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch.