Our writer previews the round 20 of the South African National First Division.
Thanda Royal Zulu experienced their first defeat of the season last weekend, cutting their lead at the summit to just seven points. The KwaZulu-Natal side will look to bounce back to winning ways on Sunday when they play host to Mthatha Bucks.
It was another successful week on the betting front for your truly, with seven of the eight NFD tips coming through last weekend. It’s always going to prove difficult trying to maintain that kind of winning form but I’m up for the challenge. Let’s take a look at the ties for round 20.
Friday 3 March
Cape Town All Stars 12/10 | Draw 21/10 | FC Cape Town 22/10
Gameweek 20 gets underway on Friday afternoon with a local Cape Town derby. The hosts are unbeaten in their last five matches with three wins in the process. However, Cape Town All Stars lack a certain cutting edge. They have claimed just five wins from 19 matches, scoring just 16 goals.
FC Cape Town are placed 13th on the standings, just a point off their opponents. The African Beasts are winless in their last three matches, including a dull goalless draw on home soil against Santos last Saturday. It should be a tightly contested match but Cape Town All Stars are tipped to capitalise on home advantage.
Saturday 4 March
Magesi FC 19/10 | Draw 21/10 | Milano United 13/10
Magesi FC are without a win in their last eight matches in all competitions, including back-to-back defeats. The Basement-dwellers are coming off a thrilling 3-2 loss away to Mthatha Bucks and will look to improve on that this weekend.
Milano United returned to winning ways last time out following a run of six consecutive league defeats. A 2-0 home win over Royal Eagles sees the Capetonians now five points clear of the drop. Nonetheless, Milano have the worst away record in the league with eight losses from nine games, scoring seven goals and conceding 24 times. This relegation-battle is set to go down to the wire and the draw looks a likely result.
Mbombela United 15/10 | Draw 21/10 | AmaZulu 17/10
Mbombela United have struggled in recent weeks with four losses from their last five matches, including back-to-back defeats. They looked flat and lacked creativity going forward at Jomo Cosmos last Saturday, as they failed to find the back of the net, going down 2-0.
AmaZulu have been a bit of a tough team to call this season. One week they are buzzing and the next they look dull. Usuthu are winless in their last four games with three draws and are tipped to earn another point at Mbombela.
Real Kings 17/10 | Draw 21/10 | University of Pretoria 15/10
Real Kings will play host to University of Pretoria on Saturday afternoon. The home side are coming off a hard-fought 2-2 draw away to AmaZulu and will gladly return to the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, where they have claimed five wins from nine games.
AmaTuks are unbeaten in their last six matches with three wins and three draws from six games. They will be buzzing with confidence following their 2-0 victory on home soil over Thanda Royal Zulu, a win which made it two on the bounce. This one could go either way, but the momentum is currently with Tuks. The away win should be backed.
Royal Eagles 6/10 | Draw 5/2 | Santos 9/2
Royal Eagles have only managed to make home advantage count this season. Their away form has been horrific, with only a measly victory from 10 games, including four losses on the spin. Nonetheless, Eagles are unbeaten on their ground this term, with seven wins and two draws from nine matches, scoring 27 goals and conceding just 11 times.
Santos have been showing some fighting spirit for the past two weeks, earning a 1-0 victory over Milano United before playing to a goalless draw at FC Cape Town last time out. The People’s Team are winless on the road, scoring seven goals and conceding double that amount. The home win is on the cards.
Stellenbosch FC 17/10 | Draw 21/10 | Black Leopards 15/10
Stellenbosch FC are unbeaten in their last four matches with three draws, including a 0-0 stalemate at Cape Town All Stars last weekend. They have lacked consistency and have struggled to dominate matches on home soil.
Black Leopards have been in top form with five wins on the spin. Lidoda Duvha have won their last three home games and will be determined to build on that. Black Leopards have won the last four meetings away to Stellenbosch. Get on the away win.
Witbank Spurs 14/10 | Draw 21/10 | Jomo Cosmos 18/10
Witbank Spurs are without a win in their last four matches, including back-to-back losses. Siyavutha have been below-par on their ground with four wins from nine games and that will need to improve if they are to claim maximum points here.
Jomo Cosmos have been dismal on their travels with five losses from their last six matches. They have, however, shown plenty of improvement over the last few weeks and should give Witbank a run for their money. Not much separates the sides and the draw looks a likely result.
Sunday 5 March
Thanda Royal Zulu 13/20 | Draw 24/10 | Mthatha Bucks 42/10
Thanda Royal Zulu fell to their first defeat this season, going down 2-0 away to University of Pretoria last week Saturday. Amabhubesi now lead the pack by just seven points and will be eager to return to winning ways in the final NFD match of the weekend. TRZ are undefeated at home with eight wins from nine games, scoring 24 and conceding just eight goals.
Mthatha Bucks have been poor on the road with just two wins from nine matches but will have a bit of confidence coming into this clash after edging Royal Eagles 3-2 in an entertaining five goal thriller. These teams have played to a draw in their last three meetings but Thanda Royal Zulu are tipped to utilize home advantage this time around.
TREBLE TIPPED @ 8/1
Cape Town All Stars Win (12/10)
Royal Eagles Win (6/10)
Black Leopards Win (15/10)
Written by Aaron
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