Written by The Caretaker Coach for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
With the finish line in sight, the time has come for relegation battles to be settled, for the title contenders to stake their claim as champions, and for the players and managers alike to impress potential suitors ahead of next season. I’m getting ahead of myself here, but entering the last ten games of the season, jostling for position and pulling out all the stops is the order of the day.
Mpumalanga Black Aces vs Orlando Pirates | Tuesday 18 March | Mbombela Stadium | 19:30
Pirates have been a let down this season. It probably stemmed from the disruptive schedule they had in conjunction with their pursuits in the Champions League, and the defeat in the Soweto derby on the weekend pretty much summed up their title challenge; lacklustre. Having said that, three wins from five ain’t all bad news, and new coach Vermezovic will be looking to improve things from here on in. Black Aces, by their standards, will be over the moon with their current form. They thrashed Swallows at the weekend, and have lost just once in their last five. Their home form is also spectacular, having lost just once there this whole season. Pirates will have a stern test to break that, and we could well see a stalemate here. A double chance Draw/Pirates at 2/10 should be the safest addition to midweek accumulators in my opinion.
Free State Stars vs Mamelodi Sundowns | Tuesday 18 March | Charles Mopeli Stadium | 19:30
Sundowns are charging at top spot Chiefs like a raging bull, but with that tenacity and hunger sometimes come inaccuracy. Chiefs have things well controlled up top and so far are seeing off the challenge. Downs do look determined to run over them and they haven’t been in a position to take the league like this for a couple of years. Realistically, the league is going to come down to these two teams and this match is vital for Downs. Bethlehem has never been the easiest place to play, but Downs seems to have been the most successful team there, only ever losing once. Even with Teko Modise suspended, I don’t see Downs losing this. Travelling well is never a certainty in this league, but Downs at 9/10 (or 4/10 Draw No Bet for the more conservative punters) seems the right way to go.
Moroka Swallows vs Golden Arrows | Tuesday 18 March | Dobsonville Stadium | 19:30
For Arrows unfortunately, the writing seems like it’s on the wall. I wouldn’t say they’ve conceded to relegation just yet, but with top players supposedly already looking elsewhere for work next season, staying up may just be a bridge too far for them. Their only recent win came against fellow relegation strugglers, Polokwane City, and whilst Swallows aren’t much higher up the table, travelling to Soweto will be test they’ll need to pass. The Dube Birds haven’t been flying and will still be hurting from a 5-2 drubbing on the weekend. Home ground advantage hasn’t seemed to help them much and I think this may just be a chance for Arrows to pick up some much needed points. A win is unlikely, but an Arrows/Draw double chance is at 7/10. With their favourable record against Swallows swaying my decision in their favour, it’s a good bet.
Maritzburg United vs Bloemfontein Celtic | Wednesday 19 March | Harry Gwala Stadium | 19:30
Maritzburg United are a side that performs at home, but as with most PSL clubs, struggle for consistency on the road. In reality, their current league position does their efforts some injustice, but it’s where they are and something they need to deal with. Besides a 3-0 loss to Chiefs, Celtic have looked good of late and will be a sterner challenge to Maritzburg than they would’ve liked. I’ve dubbed them ‘The King Of Draws’, but their knack of snatching away points seems to have worked in some way for them this season. Not something to be proud of, of course, but nevertheless a way to keep you afloat in this league. Travelling to KwaZulu Natal could offer them a similar opportunity, and with Maritzburg not in the greatest form, a Home/Draw double chance at 4/10 could be the easiest way to not lose money in this leg.
AmaZulu vs Polokwane City | Wednesday 19 March | Princess Magogo Stadium | 19:30
AmaZulu came from behind to record a much needed 3-1 win in their KZN derby at the weekend. Besides that, their league form hasn’t been that great, which has seen them slip to eighth relatively quickly. This is in stark contrast to their early season form, and I’m sure the Usuthu faithful would’ve hoped that record could’ve been maintained for longer. Besides City’s 1-0 win against Pirates a few weeks back, it’s been dark period for the ex-Bay United troopers. They haven’t come close to winning in over a month, and with them sitting in 15th spot, a win is their only remedy at this stage. AmaZulu will need to take advantage of hosting this fixture, and come out with nothing less than three points. The outright win is at 85/100, meaning the bookies aren’t even 100% sure of the outcome. It’s the way I’m going, and my faith in the Usuthu strength at home should pay off.
SuperSport United vs Platinum Stars | Wednesday 19 March | Lucas Moripe Stadium | 19:30
On the face of it, this should be a cracking fixture. Two teams who have come from opposite ends of the table, with Stars not having the greatest start to the season, now sit just two points apart. Stars won this return fixture in comfortable fashion not so long ago, and this adds even more fuel to the fire. SuperSport are a strong side at home and without too much flamboyance are able to dispose of most threats that come to visit. Form isn’t an issue here, both sides are in similar veins and it’s going to come down to which team rocks up on the night. It’s going to be a tough game to call, but Stars have had the upper hand in their recent meetings, and this may be an advantage that could see them coming away with at least a point. The double chance of Stars/Draw at 55/100 will see you get a payout if my facts are anything to go by. Matsatsantsa have the ability to win this though, so it’s going to be a cracking ninety minutes.
Kaizer Chiefs v Ajax Cape Town | Wednesday 19 March | Peter Mokaba Stadium | 19:30
There’s not much homework required when considering Kaizer Chiefs at the moment. Just when you think they’ve made a bad call, sold a valuable player or there’s a chance of them slipping up, they prove you wrong. So far they’re deserved winners, but it’s not the end of the road just yet. Ajax sneaked a late win against them in the return fixture at Cape Town Stadium, so Chiefs will be looking to reclaim lost points from that fixture. They found the solitary goal required to win the Soweto derby on the weekend, and being at home once again will make their lives easier. For Ajax’s sake, I hope they’ve put their early season woes behind them. I’ve got big respect for Roger De Sa, and I think he’s got the potential to do great things in his new role at the Urban Warriors. This might be a task too far though, and with Chiefs only ever having lost once at home against them, you’ve got back them to win this fixture at 5/10.
University of Pretoria vs Bidvest Wits | Wednesday 19 March | Tuks Stadium | 19:30
With AmaTuks’ recent introduction to top flight football, these two sides haven’t met much in league fixtures before, but no doubt there’ll be some student-fuelled rivalry going on. Wits are the more qualified of the two, and their excellent season has seen them in sight of the league leaders at all stages. Whilst they may not be eventual title holders, it means this derby of sorts may not have the evenly matched nature of what one would expect. AmaTuks have struggled this season as a whole, although recent wins against Pirates and Platinum Stars are certainly highlights. Could this be a factor in changing their fortunes tomorrow night? Possibly, but I’d look to a double chance or draw no bet than an outright result. It’s another tough one to call, but I’m going to go for the Wits Draw No Bet at 55/100 in this one. An AmaTuks win looks unlikely, and I’d happily get a returned stake if it ends in a stalemate.
