With Sundowns still away on Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s CAF Champions League duty, this weekend offers another opportunity for the chasing pack to close the gap. Mcebo Mpungose previews round 16 of the Hollywoodbets Super League.
TUT FC has accumulated four more points at the summit of the league table and will head into this weekend looking to pick up every available point to keep their hopes of winning the Hollywoodbets Super League title alive.
At the bottom of the table, things are looking grim for Golden Ladies and Tsunami Queens, who are still looking for their first win this season. Mcebo Mpungose previews this weekend’s games.
Saturday 13 August 2022
UJ FC 7/10 | Draw 23/10 | Coal City Wizards 7/2 (15:00)
UJ FC will head into this one on the back of a morale-boosting 4-1 win against First Touch FC. They face a Coal City Wizards side who have gone off the boil in a big way, failing to win any of their last five games. The Mpumalanga club’s recent 3-1 defeat against Vasco da Gama is of particular concern. The biggest problem for the Wizards this season has been a lack of goals scored, similar to goals conceded. They’ve managed just 21 goals in 13 games, letting in 19. UJ has a similar issue, but their goal difference is four goals better, meaning they are a bigger threat in front of goal.
UJ are the form side here and should get over the line against a Coal City Wizards outfit who have been out of sorts lately.
TUT FC 5/10 | Draw 5/2 | Durban Ladies 5/1 (15:00)
Durban Ladies’ form has fluctuated in the last three weeks, with the team picking up a win, draw, and a loss in its previous three games. There has been no such inconsistency from TUT on their way to the table’s summit. Their last three games have been all wins and convincing ones too, scoring 10 goals, only conceding once. They will be looking for another big win here, and I don’t see Durban Ladies putting up a big fight.
Massive value on the home win here at 5/10.
Tsunami Queens 11/1 | Draw 33/10 | First Touch 1/4
The home side is one of two sides yet to taste victory this season, while First Touch has only three wins to their name. Both sides are winless in their last three games, but First Touch has picked up two points at least, and Tsunami Queens has suffered three straight defeats. A tight game, so I would take the double chance this since there’s such good value for a draw.
I’m on First Touch to bag the points here.
Thunderbirds 1/10 | Draw 6/1 | Golden Ladies 16/1 (15:00)
The home side has won one and lost two in its last three games. They play host to a Golden Ladies side that hasn’t won this season and conceded most goals (53). What should worry the Golden Ladies technical team is that their team is currently averaging less than a goal per game, scoring just 10 in 15 games.
This should be an easy win for the Thunderbirds.
Richmond United 4/1 | Draw 24/10 | JVW 6/10 (15:00)
Richmond United takes on the ambitious JVW side, who are still find themselves in the title-chasing pack at the top of the table. The hosts have won two and lost one in their last three games. JVW have the same record in their last three but have a more robust defense. They’ve conceded seven fewer goals than Richmond United and have scored five more. Both sides have only drawn twice all season, so it’s hard to call this one despite a nine-point gap between them.
Just looking at JVW’s form over the last few weeks, this one could go either way. I’m on the double chance: Richmond or JVW.
Sunday 14 August 2022
Vasco da Gama 5/1 | Draw 5/2 | Bloemfontein Celtic 5/10 (11:30)
The early kick-off on Sunday morning will see Vasco da Gama play host to a Bloemfontein Celtic side that hasn’t lost a game in its last three matches. Vasco da Gama have picked up just one victory in their previous three, beating Coal City Wizards 3-1. Celtic is among the most formidable sides this season despite being in position six on the league table. They have lost just once in 15 games. Their downfall this season has been drawing half their games. Vasco da Gama have conceded 31 goals this season but have tried to tighten things at the back in the last few weeks.
I’ll be on Bloem Celtic to bag the spoils here.
UWC 1/7 | Draw 9/2 | City Lads 16/1 (15:00)
The weekend’s final game sees a clash between fourth-placed UWC and 14th-positioned City Lads Ladies, who have picked up just two wins all season. The visiting side has the second leakiest defense in the league; they have conceded seven goals in their last three games. UWC, on the other hand, has scored six goals in their previous two games.
I’m backing a win for UWC, who could move up as high as the second position with maximum points.
