Pirates, Stellenbosch collide in top-of-the-table Diski Challenge clash

It’s the top of the table clash in the DStv Diski Challenge when Orlando Pirates welcome Stellenbosch FC at the Makhulong Stadium on Saturday. 

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The clash between the sides will intensify the race for the league title with only a point separating the Soweto and Cape Town sides.

The young Stellies are sitting at the top of the standings with 55 points, while Bucs are in second spot with 54 points with only three games remaining to the end of the season. 

The winner of this tie will be in a good position to go on and lift the championship title without relying on any other and they just have to win the rest of the games. 

Stellies’ impressive season in the Diski Challenge has seen a number of their youngsters graduating to the first team. And in finishing the season, head coach Evangelos  Vellios wants his team to reach 60 points, and they just need two wins to reach their goal with three games remaining. 

“Our championship is to try break 60 points and now we on 55 if we can come close reach that we would be happy,” the Stellies reserves coach told SuperSport.com. 

“We have so many players who made it into the first team, Mcaba is even in the national team. Reaching 60 points would be championship for us. Of course we would be hurt coming so close but we would have achieved our objective.

”Stellies have been playing without key players Fuad Johnson and Antonio Van Wyk after the pair departed to Belgium for a trial. Vellios adds that things have been a bit difficult without the two players, but they have to soldier on. 

“I think (I think absence of the duo that have been part of the team for three weeks now) has affected our club a little bit. Fuad Johnson is our top goal scorer, and not having him has affected us. But we could not stand in the way of our players.”