Our football pundit previews the Nedbank Cup last 16 action which takes place from 13 – 17 February 2019.
Two giants in the form of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have already been slayed. Kaizer Chiefs needed an extra-time winner against Tornado who compete in the third tier of South African football. Logical thinking deems Bidvest Wits, Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs natural quarter-finalists in waiting but previous results suggest that it won’t be that easy.
Wednesday 13 February
Black Leopards 5/2
Draw 19/10
Bidvest Wits 5/4
Coach Dylan Kerr’s reign at Black leopards got off to a great start with a six-match unbeaten run across all competitions which includes eliminating Orlando Pirates from the Nedbank Cup to reach this stage of the competition. However, things have taken have taken an ugly turn with the team losing two back to back games heading into this encounter.
Bidvest Wits have lost two and won two of their last five league games and I can confidently say it’s not too long until they relinquish top spot. They were beaten 2-1 by struggling Highlands Park in the league last week. My money is on Black Leopards.
Friday 15 February
Cape Umoya United 17/10
Draw 2/1
Mbombela United 16/10
Cape Umoya United finally lost their first game under Dominic Isaacs when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Richards Bay last week. Coach “Domza” had gone seven games without tasting defeat. On the other hand, promotion-chasing Mbombela United now sit in fourth place on the log and they might sacrifice this game to focus on their quest for PSL football. This can go either way and I expect it to be an evenly poised encounter hence I back a draw in regulation time.
Cape Town City 6/10
Draw 5/2
Highlands Park 9/2
Cape Town City are fourth on the PSL table but their seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions was snapped by AmaZulu last week. Kermit Erasmus squandered an opportunity to put his side 1-0 up in the first half when his spot kick was saved by Siyabonga Mbatha. The fact that the keeper won the Man of the Match award should tell you that they created a lot of chances.
By a way of contrast, Highlands Park who had gone six league games without a regulation time win and shocked table-topping Bidvest Wits 2-1. I think the Citizens will win this one at home.
Saturday 16 February
Chippa United 17/20
Draw 22/10
Tshakhuma 32/10
Clinton Larsen has won three and drawn one of his four matches since taking over the coaching reigns at Chippa United. The team’s professionalism and attitude will be tested to the limit when they come up against a lesser opponent in Tshakhuma who compete in the NFD.
The Limpopo-based minnows are winless in their last five league games but they managed to knock Polokwane City out of the Nedbank Cup courtesy of an Edward Manqele brace. The difference in quality should see Chippa winning comfortably.
Witbank Spurs 15/4
Draw 5/2
Golden Arrows 7/10
Shakes Mashaba’s Witbank Spurs are deep in the relegation zone after failing to win any of their last two games. Staying too long in the Nedbank Cup could be a distraction to their survival pursuit.
Steve Komphela finally lost his first in charge of Golden Arrows despite when SuperSport United beat them 3-2, despite Abafana Bes’thende having come from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 at some point. I don’t see Witbank going all out to win this one hence I’ll lean towards Arrows to win it.
Bloemfontein Celtic 15/20
Draw 51/20
Richards Bay 34/10
Bloemfontein Celtic sit in sixth place on the log with one defeat in the last six matches in all competitions. They come up against a Richards Bay side that lies fifth on the NFD log and currently enjoys a five-match unbeaten run.
The Natal Rich Boyz have already knocked a PSL side, Free State Stars, out of this tournament. The KZN outfit might have had an easy ride against relegation-threatened Free State Stars who might have had to sacrifice the tournament and I expect them to come unstuck against Phunya Sele Sele. Back the PSL side to triumph.
Sunday 17 February
Jomo Cosmos 27/20
Draw 2/1
TS Galaxy 22/10
Jomo Cosmos have lost four and won just one of their last five league games but they managed to shock Baroka in the Nedbank Cup. Ezenkosi might lie 12th on the log but they are known for being troublesome in cup competitions.
TS Galaxy have a better recent record as they have won two of their last five league games. To reach this stage of the tournament, they had an easier passage through Umvoti FC. I’ll back Jomo Cosmos here.
Magic FC 16/1
Draw 9/2
Kaizer Chiefs 2/11
It took an own goal in extra time for Kaizer Chiefs to get the better of Tornado FC in the previous round. They come up against another third-tier side, Magic FC, who are currently second on the Western Cape stream.
The minnows must feel hard done by logistics as they now have to stage this game in Port Elizabeth due to unavailability of venues on the day of this massive clash for them. This will be like a home game for Chiefs and they should easily win it on a bigger stadium that’s foreign to a third-tier side.
TREBLE @
Black Leopards Win
Bloemfontein Celtic Win
Kaizer Chiefs Win
Written by @EggsBenedictZA
