Our soccer pundit previews the NFD Week 10 action which kicks off on Saturday 4 November 2017.
Last week saw Highlands Park shoot to the top of the NFD table with the now second-placed Stellenbosch failing to win in their third consecutive match. The Lions of the North and Stellies are now tied on 16 points at the summit.
Guess what?! These teams go head to head this week in a massive six pointer! The usual suspects, Ubuntu Cape Town, remain rooted to the foot of the table without a single victory in nine games. Let’s forecast the upcoming gameweek.
Saturday 4 November
Cape Town All Stars 9/10 | Draw 22/10 | Real Kings FC 28/10
Cape Town All Stars have won an impressive four and drawn two of their opening nine games and they currently sit two points off the pace in sixth position on the log. With the title race being so tightly contested in the early stages of the season, they’ll believe they’re in with a chance. Real Kings grinded out a 1-0 victory at home against Mthatha Bucks last week. They still haven’t scored more than once in a game due to their defensive tactical approach. I’m expecting them to go to the Mother City and park the bus. Back the draw here.
Highlands Park 12/10 | Draw 21/10 | Stellenbosch FC 21/10
This is a mouth-watering top of the table clash with both sides who occupy the top two positions on the log sitting on 16 points. Highlands Park are above due to a superior goal difference and they head into the clash off the back of a four-match unbeaten run, which includes three wins. Stellenbosch are going through a rough patch, having failed to record a single victory in their last three games. That saw them relinquish top spot to their opponents and this should be a tough ask away from home. The Stellies are low on confidence and I’m expecting them to lose away from home.
Mthatha Bucks 17/20 | Draw 23/10 | Super Eagles 3/1
Mthatha Bucks have been insanely inconsistent – they’ve won three, drawn three and lost three of their opening nine fixtures. You just don’t know what to expect from them and they currently lie eighth on the log. The newly-promoted Super Eagles of Free State are really not finding life easy in the second tier of South African football. They are third from the bottom and they go into this game off the back of three winless matches. Back Mthatha Bucks to claim maximum points.
Richards Bay 17/10 | Draw 19/10 |Mbombela United 16/10
Newly-formed Richards Bay have only won one match in the current campaign and they’re languishing in the relegation zone with eight points in nine matches. The New Rich Boyz are winless in their last four matches. Mbombela United are among the league title contenders, lying in fourth place and only one point adrift of top-placed Highlands Park and Stellenbosch. They lost ground on the contenders last week when they lost 2-0 to Witbank Spurs in the Mpumalanga derby. I foresee Mbombela redeeming themselves against NFD strugglers.
Tshakhuma FC 17/20 | Draw 23/10 | Ubuntu Cape Town FC 3/1
Tshakhuma seem to be slowly turning their fortunes around as they remain unbeaten in their last four games. Last week they managed to hold Uthongathi to a goalless draw away from home. TTM will look for nothing less than a victory against the bottom-placed side. Ubuntu Cape Town’s start to the season has been absolutely shambolic as they’re winless in their opening nine matches, losing four games in the process. They have found the back of the net on six occasions and conceded 10 goals so far. Tshakhuma should win this one.
Witbank Spurs 15/20 | Draw 24/10 | Royal Eagles 33/10
Witbank shocked everyone last week, putting high-flying Mbombela to the sword in a sizzling Mpumalanga derby. That has put them three points off the pace and they will definitely come out all guns blazing. Royal Eagles are fourth from the bottom with nine points collected so far in the current campaign. Zipho Dlangalala who took over the coaching reigns from Alan Freese has won two and lost two of his four games in charge. Witbank are tipped to emerge the victors at home.
Sunday 5 November
Jomo Cosmos 9/10 | Draw 22/10 | Black Leopards 28/10
Jomo Cosmos have won their last two matches and they come flying into this encounter as they are one of those teams that are eyeing the title. They can’t afford to slip up as they’re only two points off the pace and the only way to keep up is collecting maximum points. Black Leopards have been poor this season with only two wins in nine matches. Last week, they went 1-0 down to table-topping Highlands Park. This will be another tough match for them at Jomo Cosmos who have started winning games. Put your money on Ezenkosi.
University of Pretoria 15/20 | Draw 24/10 | Uthongathi FC 33/10
Shaun Bartlett’s University of Pretoria are third on the log which is a playoff spot and they will be looking to keep up with other contenders. It’s interesting to note that they are winless in the last three games. Uthongathi come into this one off the back of a four match unbeaten run but they haven’t been scoring enough as that run includes three draws. They were held to a goalless stalemate at home by Tshakhuma last week. I’m expecting another draw here at 24/10!
TREBLE @ 5/1
Mthatha Bucks Win 17/20
Tshakhuma Win 17/20
Witbank Win 15/20
