Marumo Gallants will be hoping they can keep Stellenbosch FC’s multi-award winner Langelihle Phili at bay while their own Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo brings his scoring boots along in the critical Betway Premiership encounter at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Saturday.
Gallants are in a fight for top-flight survival as they are currently deep in the relegation quagmire in 14th place on 24 points — level with 15th-placed Orbit College, who face title-chasing Orlando Pirates.
A victory over Stellies would go a long way in ensuring the Bloemfontein-based side’s survival.
Stellies, meanwhile, have their own ambitions, as a comprehensive win for Gavin Hunt’s team would keep them in contention to finish in the top eight. The Maroons are currently just outside in ninth place with 36 points and require Durban City to lose in the KwaZulu-Natal derby to AmaZulu, and for the existing four-goal difference between the sides to be overturned.
They do, however, possess a striker in young Phili, who should be full of confidence after bagging four prizes at Stellenbosch FC’s awards evening earlier this week.
Among them was the award for topping the club’s goalscoring charts, with Phili having already netted nine times this season.
He is just one goal away from becoming the first player to hit double figures for Stellenbosch in the current campaign.
This would also see the former Amajita star become only the fourth player to reach double figures for Stellenbosch in a single campaign – after Iqraam Rayners (four times), Devin Titus (twice), and Junior Mendieta.
Gallants, though, will be hoping Ndlondlo is their source of inspiration on Saturday.
The former Pirates and Bafana Bafana frontman has been prolific in previous encounters against Stellies and is the leading goalscorer in this fixture, having struck a brace last time out when Gallants humbled the Maroons 4-0.
Ndlondlo has six goals across all competitions, having been prolific with three strikes during Gallants’ run to the Carling Cup final earlier this season.
There’s no doubt he would trade it all for a goal that seals Gallants’ survival on Saturday.
Meanwhile, last-placed Magesi FC (21 points) require maximum points from their clash against Richards Bay if they hope to avoid automatic relegation and earn the chance to fight another day in the playoffs.
