The battle for Premiership supremacy in the Mother City is really heating up.
As it stands, top-flight new boys Stellenbosch have the edge over rivals Cape Town City.
They are currently in ninth place on the log, with City three points behind them in 11th.
It all leads to one big Cape derby in about six weeks’ time.
I reckon we should dub that match the Good Hope Derby.
I’m hearing that Stellies is doing their best to bring the match to Stellenbosch in what will be the first Premiership match of the season in their home town.
What an affair that will be.
The last derby dished up an entertaining encounter, with City beating Stellies 1-0 at Athlone Stadium.
Then-City coach Benni McCarthy and his Stellies counterpart Steve Barker had some words to say to one another during that match.
McCarthy is no longer at City, while the men from the Winelands have found a way to deal with the demands of top flight football under Barker.
With their status as a Premiership outfit all but safe after Friday’s 1-0 victory over SuperSport United, Stellies can now challenge new City coach Jan Olde Riekerink’s team.
FIRST DERBY: Coach Riekerink. Picture: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
While City have not enjoyed the best of seasons, Stellies have gone from strength to strength after doing some shrewd business during the festive season.
It’s amazing what a couple of mid-season signings can do.
Stellies sent Nkanyiso Zungu to Orlando Pirates and brought in Nathan Sinkala, Asavela Mbekile and Granwald Scott to plug that hole in midfield.
NEW SIGNING: Nathan Sinkala. Picture: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
After two appearances, Mbekile and Sinkala look like they’re the exact type of stability and drive forward that the team needed.
Stellies general manager Garth le Roux said after the win over Matsatsantsa: “Imagine if it would be a battle for the top eight?.
And I’m starting to see it too.
Now we just need City to make the most of their next three games.
They’ve got Sundowns at home next - a tough one.
But they have no business losing against Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa United in the encounters after that.
So with everything to play for, you can mark April 4 on the calendar - that’s when the second Cape derby will take place.