The 2022-23 DStv Premiership season in South Africa is now complete after the final fixtures were played over the weekend and it was a devastating conclusion to the campaign for Marumo Gallants. Following the end of a magical run in the CAF Confederation Cup midweek the Limpopo club needed at least a draw at Swallows FC on Saturday to retain their top division status but fell short with a 2-0 defeat to the Soweto side. Gallants star striker Ranga Chivaviro was unavailable for the crucial match and his finishing was missed as Gallants fell to last place and automatic relegation to the second tier Motsepe Foundation Championship.
While Gallants were doomed to the relegation trap door with defeat, Chippa United and Maritzburg United did just enough. Chippa held on for a 0-0 draw at home against Golden Arrows to move out of the bottom two spots while Maritzburg drew Mamelodi Sundowns in midweek action to finish second from bottom, leaving the Team of Choice in the relegation playoff. Maritzburg will be grouped with the second and third placed teams in the Motsepe Foundation Championship which include Cape Town Spurs and Casric Stars where the top side from the three-team playoff will compete in the DStv Premiership next season.
Orlando Pirates join champions Mamelodi Sundowns as South Africa’s representatives in next season’s CAF Champions League after a 4-0 thrashing at AmaZulu confirmed second place for The Happy People. Star attacker Monnapule Saleng scored a goal and contributed two assists in the victory which sees Pirates finish ahead of third placed SuperSport United. SuperSport will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup next season after a 1-0 defeat at Sekhukhune United.
Cape Town City overtook Kaizer Chiefs for fourth place after defeating Amakhosi 1-0 at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Chiefs complete an up and down campaign that ended with disappointment in the end and a second consecutive fifth placed finish, something that is unacceptable for a traditional giant in South African soccer.
Highlights from several matches on the final day are below.
Scores
Richards Bay 0-0 Royal AM
AmaZulu 0-4 Orlando Pirates
Sekhukhune United 1-0 SuperSport United
Swallows 2-0 Marumo Gallants
Stellenbosch 2-1 TS Galaxy
Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Cape Town City
Chippa United 0-0 Golden Arrows
Highlights
AmaZulu 0-4 Orlando Pirates
Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Cape Town City
Sekhukhune United 1-0 SuperSport United
Stellenbosch 2-1 TS Galaxy
Swallows 2-0 Marumo Gallants
