Premiership pace-setters Sekhukhune United set sights on Polokwane derby glory

In a hotly anticipated local derby, Sekhukhune United, the surprise Betway Premiership log-leaders, are facing an unpredictable outing in their first derby of the season against the only other Limpopo side in the league, Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

With Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates absent due to CAF commitments, all eyes will be on the current league leaders Sekhukhune as they seek to extend their unbeaten run this season.

The match, kicking off at 3pm, comes at a time when the spotlight is keenly focused on Sekhukhune, bolstered by their recent performances. Sekhukhune are currently standing as the only unbeaten team in the Premiership.

Their latest outing saw them battle to a 1-1 draw against Chippa United, a match that was thrilling for all the wrong reasons for striker Bradley Grobler. Despite scoring a late penalty to equalise, Grobler will be haunted by his missed spot kick in injury time that could have solidified their position at the top with a four-point lead.

However, with their impressive start to the season, including a stunning 3-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs recently, when they stifled the hopes of a team on a roll, Sekhukhune are considered the clear favourites heading into Saturday's derby.

As they prepare to take on Polokwane City, the question on everyone’s lips is whether this gritty side can extend its surprise lead.

Sekhukhune's coach, Eric Tinkler, while cautious of making title predictions, acknowledges the depth and strength of the opposition and is focused on building consistency within his own squad.

“It would be very premature for me to say we are going to compete for the league. It is only eight games in, and a lot of things can happen in a short space of time,” he stated.

Tinkler is adamant that maintaining focus and accumulating points is vital in challenging the perennial dominance of the Sundowns. A win could extend Sekhukhune's lead at the top to five points should Sundowns falter (against Richards Bay on Saturday evening), further cementing Sekhukhune United’s place as a formidable contender in this season's title race.

Sekhukhune remain the only team to be unbeaten this season, with 20 points from eight matches, and lead second-placed Sundowns by two points.

Against Chippa, they had to come back from a goal down to force a draw and could have won it right at the end had Bradley Grobler’s penalty in injury time not been saved by the Chilli Boys goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

With fans expected to fill the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in droves, the atmosphere will be electric as Sekhukhune takes on their fierce rivals, Polokwane City.

This derby represents not just a chance for bragging rights but also a defining moment that could impact the title race moving forward.

Coach Eric Tinkler, while mindful of the challenges ahead, remains focused on the immediate task: building consistency within the squad. "It would be very premature for me to say we are going to compete for the league. It is only eight games in, and a lot of things can happen in a short space of time," he explained during a pre-match briefing.

Tinkler's prudent approach highlights the competitive nature of the league, particularly against a formidable defending champion, Sundowns.