Stellenbosch ended 2019 ahead of their neighbours Cape Town City on the PSL log.
On the final weekend of the first round of the season, Stellies grabbed three points on the road with a 1-0 win at Baroka while City lost 2-0 at Wits.
PSL newboys Stellies took the trip to Polokwane at the foot of the table, knowing it was going to be a tough game with the team winless in six matches.
But Steve Barker’s manne hardly ever lacked their regular fighting spirit to keep themselves in the contest on a hot day in the Limpopo province.
TEAM SPIRIT: Stellenbosch celebrate. Picture: Supplied.
What is usually missing is the finishing touch in front of goal to get that results and this time Waseem Isaacs provided that class in the 59th minute to give them a happy festive break and fire themselves out of the relegation zone.
For their more illustrious neighbours City, Christmas is going to be bleak after their sixth defeat left them level on points with bottom club Polokwane City.
City continued to suffer from the problems hampering them – the most troubling of the lot though is a failure to score under new coach Jan Olde Riekerink.
The Citizens created just one chance in the first half.
CITY WOES: Coach Jan Riekerink and John Comitis. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix.
But Shane Roberts hesitated after his touch inside the box and had his shot blocked after being played in by Chris David in the 20th minute.
That was as good as it got for the visitors as they found themselves behind after 28 minutes when Terrence Dzvukamanja swept home a loose ball after City failed to clear on the edge of their box.
And it got worse as they ended the first half trailing and a man down after Ebrahim Seedat was sent off for a second bookable offence after 40
minutes.
Thulani Hlatshwayo headed home a Sameehg Doutie corner to seal the points in 56th minute.
And Riekerink says: “I think the first half, we were very bad.
“It was a bad performance. In the second half with a man less, we were better.
“So I must make the team a compliment. But overall, it was bad.”
Weekend League wrap:
- Maritzburg United 1, Kaizer Chiefs 1
- Bloem Celtic 1, AmaZulu 2
- Chippa 1, SuperSport 0
- Mamelodi Sundowns 1, Polokwane 0
- Highlands Park 2, Golden Arrows 0
- Orlando Pirates 3, Black Leopards 1
- Baroka 0, Stellenbosch 1
- Wits 2, CT City 0.