Betway Premiership: Choose your starting XI from a weekend of dramatic results

The Betway Premiership produced a series of closely contested matches over the weekend, including a 2-2 draw between Marumo Gallants and Polokwane City, AmaZulu FC’s 2-1 victory over Richards Bay FC and Kaizer Chiefs’ entertaining 3-2 win against Siwelele FC.

Marumo Gallants and Polokwane City shared the points at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Friday night after a match featuring four goals and an own goal.

The fixture marked coach Phuti Mohafe’s first meeting with his former club, Polokwane City, since he left at the end of last season. It was also coach Willy Moloto’s first encounter with his former senior.

Polokwane City took the lead inside three minutes when Tidimalo Molokwane finished from inside the box after the home defence failed to clear the danger. Marumo Gallants levelled in the 17th minute through Msindisi Ndlovu, who found the net with a powerful effort from outside the box.

The visitors restored their advantage in the 25th minute. Bonginkosi Dlamini beat the offside trap before calmly finishing to make it 2-1.

Gallants equalised again just before half-time when Polokwane City captain Petrus Nkaki headed into his own net while attempting to clear. Neither side could find a decisive third goal after the interval.

AmaZulu FC claimed their third win in five league matches by beating Richards Bay FC 2-1 on Friday evening.

Coach Arthur Zwane’s side have now taken 10 points from their opening five matches. They have scored eight goals and conceded seven, with the latest victory lifting them to fourth in the league table.

In-form striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya opened the scoring before Sibusiso Radebe doubled AmaZulu’s advantage in the 82nd minute. Moses Mthembu pulled one back for Richards Bay FC, also known as The Natal Rich Boys, in the 80th minute, but AmaZulu held on.

Chippa United remain without a win after five matches following a goalless draw with Milford FC at Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The match was dubbed the ‘Battle of Ngqamakhwe’ because the owners of both clubs were born and raised in the area of the Eastern Cape. It was Chippa United’s fifth draw of the campaign and the latest result in their search for a first victory under coach Brandon Truter, who replaced Vusumuzi Vilakazi before the start of the season.

The Gqeberha-based club sit 12th, in the bottom half of the table, with four points. They have scored twice and conceded six goals.

There was another goalless draw on Saturday evening as Sekhukhune United and TS Galaxy failed to find the net at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Mamelodi Sundowns secured a win against Golden Arrows in the third meeting between the teams this season. The sides had already faced one another in both legs of the MTN8 before their league fixture at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Golden Arrows coach Pitso Dladla and Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso saw former Arrows attacker Siyanda Ndlovu score against his old club in the 14th minute. Sede Junior Dion equalised for Sundowns in the 76th minute, continuing his impressive scoring run against Golden Arrows with his fifth goal in five matches.

Teboho Mokoena then completed the comeback with a strike from outside the box two minutes before the final whistle.

Kaizer Chiefs finished the weekend with a 3-2 victory over Siwelele FC in an entertaining encounter at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday evening.

Mfundo Vilakazi gave Chiefs the lead in the 30th minute by lifting the ball over advancing goalkeeper Samukelo Xulu, who had come off his line to challenge for possession.

Wandile Duba made it 2-0 in the 64th minute with a backheel inside the Siwelele penalty area. The visitors responded three minutes later when left-back Aphiwe Baliti scored a superb goal inside the Chiefs box, leaving Brandon Petersen with no chance.

New signing Faiz Abrahams restored Chiefs’ two-goal advantage in the 76th minute. His direct free-kick flew over the players in the area, struck the Siwelele post and then deflected off goalkeeper Xulu’s head before crossing the line.

Siwelele attacker Evrard Yao scored in the 90th minute to give the Bloemfontein side hope, but Kaizer Chiefs held on for maximum points.

The match was coach Lehlohonolo Seema’s final game in charge of Siwelele FC.

With the weekend’s Betway Premiership action providing plenty of goals, individual performances and decisive moments, supporters can now try to select their own Team of the Week and compare it with the official Soccer Laduma selection.