Home Sport Stellies confident ahead of Cape Derby against City in Athlone

Stellies confident ahead of Cape Derby against City in Athlone

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Die ding gaan ruk at Athlone Stadium tonight at 7.30pm when Stellies FC and Cape Town City lock horns for local PSL Premiership
bragging rights.

MATCH-WINNER: Stellies yster Devin Titus, right

Expect some action at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night at 7.30pm when Stellies FC and Cape Town City lock horns for local PSL Premiership
bragging rights.

Stellies and City are the only top-flight clubs in the Cape, after Cape Town Spurs got relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season. The match will be Stellies’ home game because of the unavailability of their turf at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Despite playing at a home away from home, coach Steve Barker’s men will take some confidence from the fact that they’ve had Eric Tinkler’s Citizens’ measure in this fixture over the years.

In fact, of the 10 derbies played to date, Stellies have won an incredible seven with one ending in a draw and City winning just two times since their first meeting five years ago in 2019.

Tinkler’s men will feel they have a point to prove, with the Citizens’ last victory over Stellies coming under former coach Jan Olde Riekerink back in 2020.

Tinkler managed to get a point against Barker in 2022, but other than that Stellies have ruled the roost in the Cape, winning both their league matches against City 1-0 last season – Devin Titus scoring in the away fixture and Anicet Oura at home.

In terms of the form book, City enter the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Royal AM in their league opener.

After Prins Tjiueza found the back of the net early for them, they allowed Royal AM back into the match later on and will be out to put in a strong 90-minute performance this time around.

Stellies, meanwhile, also played only one league fixture to date, shockingly going down 2-0 to Golden Arrows last weekend.

After making next month’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates and also confirming a first group-stage appearance in Africa, Barker told the club’s website that last Wednesday’s loss put them “back down to earth”, leaving both Stellies and City with a point to prove tonight.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S OTHER PSL MATCHES

AmaZulu vs Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows vs Magesi FC, Sekhukhune United vs Chippa United, SuperSport United vs TS Galaxy (all at 7.30pm).

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