With the Telkom Knockout Cup taken away from us this season, the footballing calendar year has become a tad less hectic for clubs who can now go into each tournament fresh with ample time for preparations.
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With so much to look forward to in the Nedbank Cup this weekend, we’ll be taking a look at some key battles in the tournament as we look for those potential upsets, while also separating the bankers to include in all our multiples.
Friday 5 February
7/4 Aston Villa | Draw 51/20 | Arsenal 29/20 (14:30)
Just the double header to look forward to on Friday afternoon
in the Nedbank Cup as Pretoria Callies host Royal AM, while Maritzburg United
entertain Sekhukhune United. Considering Pretoria Callies are two places above Royal
AM despite playing a game less, they should make it through to the next round.
Callies have also won four games in a row.
Maritzburg United haven’t looked like their usual selves and
face the GladAfrica’s log leaders, Sekhukhune United. With Ernst Maritzburg
likely to tinker his best team around, perhaps an upset could be on the cards
here.
Take Pretoria Callies to win (18/10) & Maritzburg
United to draw with Sekhukhune United (24/10).
Saturday 6 February
There are five games on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup, but our
main focus is undoubtedly the KZN derby between Golden Arrows and AmaZulu. Arrows
are unbeaten in Natal and have previously beaten Usuthu 2-0 at Kings Park
Stadium earlier this term. The tie between Cape Town City and Bloemfontein
Celtic should also prove to be a fascinating affair after the two sides played
to a six-goal thriller earlier this season with City coming out 4-2 winners in
the end.
My money is on TS Galaxy (13/20), Orlando Pirates (3/10),
JDR Stars (11/20), Golden Arrows (12/10) and Cape Town City (9/10) all to win.
Sunday 7 February
As straightforward as it may have seemed on Saturday,
Sunday’s Nedbank Cup ties look to be fairly easier to call with some of the
DStv Premiership’s big guns taking on some favourable opposition from the
GladAfrica Championship. Kaizer Chiefs, despite their derby defeat to Orlando
Pirates, have looked decent in recent weeks and should be all over Richards
Bay, while Swallows have the chance of overachieving yet again with a solid cup
run, where they host Cape Umoya United first. The toughest game to call on the
day is undoubtedly the clash between Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards. Personally,
I don’t buy into the fact that they could sacrifice this game to focus on
survival. After all, it’s only February.
Back Chippa United (17/20), Black Leopards (17/10), Swallows
(7/20) and Kaizer Chiefs (4/10) to all get through to the next round in 90
minutes.
Monday 8 February
Cape Town Stars are down in a relegation fight in the
GladAfrica Championship and face a Baroka side who come off the back of holding
Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City to 1-1 draws. The Limpopo-based side seem to
have turned the corner from the team they were becoming recently as they were
slowly being roped into a relegation scramble.
Baroka (9/20) should be in all your Nedbank Cup
multiples.
Written by Jesse Nagel
