Our writer previews the South African NFD match-ups for the upcoming weekend.
Just three more rounds of football to go until the NFD takes a back seat until February, so let’s make the most of it! Thanda Royal Zulu seem unbeatable at present but Black Leopards will have their say on the matter this weekend and will be eager to be the first time to defeat Amabhubesi.
The next best team is Royal Eagles, trailing by six points, which shows just how well Thanda Royal Zulu have done in this first stanza of the 2016/17 season. Let’s quit the small talk and find out where the value is this week.
Friday 2 December
Cape Town All Stars 13/10 | Draw 21/10 | Real Kings FC 2/1
Cape Town All Stars are placed second from bottom on the log with just one win from 12 matches. However, they are unbeaten in their last four home games and will be determined to capitalize on home advantage.
Real Kings FC were disappointing last time out, going down 2-1 at home against Black Leopards. They are winless on their travels, drawing four times, losing twice and scoring just five goals whilst conceding 10 times. Back the Capetonians to utilize home advantage.
Saturday 3 December
University of Pretoria 8/10 | Draw 23/10 | Santos 33/10
Both University of Pretoria and Santos have been in horrendous form. AmaTuks have suffered six losses from their last nine matches, while the People’s Team are without a win in 10 matches, including three defeats and seven draws.
A tight affair is expected with a low-scoring encounter. AmaTuks will most likely have the bulk of possession on home soil, but Santos are the draw specialists in the NFD. Back the away team to frustrate University of Pretoria and hold on for a share of the spoils.
Black Leopards 15/10 | Draw 2/1 | Thanda Royal Zulu 18/10
Black Leopards have struggled to maintain winning form, with home advantage should cause Thanda Royal Zulu all sorts of problems. Lidoda Duvha are off the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Real Kings FC and will be keen on building on that.
Thanda Royal Zulu have really surprised me this season. After 12 rounds of football, they remain the only unbeaten team in the league, winning eight times, drawing four and scoring 27 goals whilst conceding only nine times. Back Amabhubesi to grind out another victory.
FC Cape Town 14/10 | Draw 2/1 | Witbank Spurs 19/10
FC Cape Town lie 13th on the table with just three wins from 12 games. Their opponents, Witbank Spurs, are placed fourth on the standings, with just one defeat from their last seven matches.
However, FC Cape Town are unbeaten against Witbank in the last seven meetings, including back-to-back wins. A cagey contest is on the cards, but Witbank have generally struggled on their trips to Cape Town – get on the home win.
Stellenbosch FC 9/10 | Draw 22/10 | Mbombela United 28/10
Stellenbosch FC have been another surprise package this season. They are unbeaten in their last six matches, drawing three times and winning three. Mbombela United have the worst away record in the league, as they remain without a victory on the road, scoring five goals and conceding 10 times.
However, have been excellent in recent weeks with two wins from their last three matches, while Stellenbosch have drawn their last three games. Mbombela United have won the last two meetings at Stellenbosch and are tipped to pull off an upset here.
Mthatha Bucks 13/10 | Draw 21/10 | Milano United 2/1
Mthatha Bucks are unbeaten in their last five matches, drawing four of them on the spin. Milano United have been impressive in recent weeks with three wins from their last four matches, including back-to-back wins.
Not much separates the sides with Mthatha Bucks placed seventh on the log, just one point below Milano United in fifth position. The sides are tipped to cancel each other out.
Sunday 4 December
Jomo Cosmos 8/10 | Draw 23/10 | Magesi FC 33/10
Jomo Cosmos will look to get their season back on track when they take on bottom-dwellers Magesi FC on Sunday. The home side are unbeaten on their ground with three wins and three draws from six matches.
The newcomers claimed their second victory of the season last time out with a hard-earned but impressive 3-2 home victory over AmaZulu. Nonetheless, they have traveled dismally, losing their last five matches on the road, scoring just once and conceding 13 times. The home win is tipped.
AmaZulu 17/10 | Draw 2/1 | Royal Eagles 31/20
AmaZulu are 11th on the table with just four wins from 12 games. They have been poor in recent weeks, suffering six defeats from their last eight games. Royal Eagles on the other hand, are undefeated in their last eight matches, claiming five victories.
Eagles pulled the double over AmaZulu last season, winning both home and away. Back the away team to claim another victory over Usuthu in what should be an entertaining KwaZulu-Natal based derby.
TREBLE @ 13/1
Cape Town All Stars Win 13/10
FC Cape Town Win 14/10
Royal Eagles Win 31/20
Written by Aaron Crowie @Hollywoodbets
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