Our writer previews the South African NFD matchups for the upcoming weekend.
Gameweek five of South Africa’s NFD looks valuable on the betting front, and I’m confident in my tipping this week, so keep your faith in me and reap the rewards after. Last week’s tremendous 15/1 treble faltered on account of Royal Eagles failing to live up to their 6-2 victory over Cape Town All Stars the week prior. But that’s enough on the past, let’s see what we can conjure up this week!
Saturday 1 October
University of Pretoria 11/10 | Draw 21/10 | Jomo Cosmos 23/10
University of Pretoria will be eager to return to winning ways following their 3-0 drubbing at AmaZulu last time out. It’s also the second consecutive game in which AmaTuks have failed to find the back of the net.
Jomo Cosmos claimed their first win of the season following their return to the NFD after edging Mthatha Bucks 1-0 last Sunday afternoon. It’s a victory that will boost the team’s morale and spirit as well as give them momentum for their matchup with AmaTuks on Saturday. Ezenkosi on the Double Chance at 6/10 is the way to go.
Santos 14/10 | Draw 2/1 | Stellenbosch FC 18/10
Santos and Stellenbosch FC will reignite their rivalry with a Cape Town derby on Saturday afternoon. The home side are off the back of a well-deserved entertaining 3-3 draw at Cape Town All Stars; a game in which they can take positives and negatives from, after scoring three and shipping three as well.
Goals from Letsi Koapeng and Zaid Patel earned Stellenbosch FC a 2-1 victory over Royal Eagles, making it two wins on the bounce for the Capetonians. A tight and cagey affair is expected and the draw looks the most likely result.
Royal Eagles 13/10 | Draw 21/10 | Witbank Spurs 19/10
Royal Eagles were shocking last time out, falling to a 2-1 defeat at Stellenbosch FC, following a tremendous 6-2 victory over Cape Town All Stars the week prior.
Witbank Spurs bagged a routine 2-0 home win against Magesi FC last weekend – courtesy of goals by Mhlabine Mahlatse and Joshua Sauls – making it two wins from three matches. Nonetheless, I feel Witbank will struggle here, especially after their midweek encounter against Thanda Royal Zulu.
Royal Eagles have won the last four home games against Witbank Spurs, scoring nine goals and conceding just once. Back the Durbanites to return to winning ways.
Magesi FC 16/10 | Draw 2/1 | Mbombela United 16/10
Newly-promoted Magesi FC are currently placed 14th on the NFD table, suffering three losses from four matches. Their opponents, Mbombela United, are just a point above them in 13th position, with just one win from four games.
Both Magesi FC and Mbombela United will be desperate for a victory and neither side can afford to drop points yet again. The teams are tipped to cancel each other out.
Mthatha Bucks 14/10 | Draw 2/1 | Black Leopards 18/10
Mthatha Bucks tasted their first defeat last time out, going down 1-0 at Jomo Cosmos. They will face another stern test in high-flying Black Leopards. Sphelele Mkhulise netted a brace against Milano United last weekend as Lidoda Duvha raced to a 4-0 victory.
Black Leopards won both meetings against Mthatha Bucks last season and following their convincing win over Milano United last time out, look well worth a punt to come out on top here. The away win is on the cards.
Sunday 2 October
AmaZulu 7/10 | Draw 22/10 | FC Cape Town 4/1
AmaZulu’s excellent start to the 2016/17 campaign continued last weekend after hammering title-rivals University of Pretoria 3-0. The table-toppers are in pole position for the league with three wins and one draw from four matches.
FC Cape Town are quietly placed mid-table after coming from a goal down to snatch a 2-1 home victory against Real Kings last Saturday afternoon. It was their first win of the campaign and they will be hoping to build on that.
AmaZulu won this fixture 5-0 last season and with the kind of form they are in, are likely to claim maximum points once again. The home win is a good bet.
Thanda Royal Zulu 13/20 | Draw 5/2 | Real Kings FC 4/1
Thanda Royal Zulu and Real Kings FC will go toe-to-toe in what promises to be a cracking KwaZulu Natal derby. The home side have already registered wins over Magesi FC and Royal Eagles, whilst playing to a commendable 1-1 draw at Mbombela United last weekend.
Despite Real Kings FC going into the halftime interval 1-0 up, FC Cape Town fought back to clinch a 2-1 defeat over the Durbanites last weekend. That loss might just have affected their team spirit and Amabhubesi will look to inflict a consecutive defeat on the newcomers.
Thanda Royal Zulu have shown good form in the opening stages of the season and are tipped to bag all three points on Sunday afternoon.
Milano United 15/10 | Draw 5/2 | Cape Town All Stars 4/1
Milano United and Cape Town All Stars will do battle in a bottom of the table early season showdown. The home side were horrendous last time out as Black Leopards annihilated them 4-0. The Kinnes have been dreadful with three losses from four matches, scoring three goals and conceding nine times.
Cape Town All Stars are placed at the foot of the table and are the only team yet to claim a victory this season. The Gugulethu side’s inability to defend is costing them and if they don’t organize their backline, they might just be heading for another long disappointing Sunday afternoon.
Cape Town All Stars gave away a 3-1 lead against Santos last weekend and if they are able to play the way they did whilst managing to give a more solidified performance, they might be worth a punt on the Double Chance at 11/20.
Written by Aaron Crowie @Hollywoodbets
