Our football analyst previews the GladAfrica Championship Week Three action which kicks off on Saturday 31 August 2019.
Newly-promoted JDR Stars are amazingly among the early pace-setters as they top the standings with four points in two games. Hopefully, Uthongathi and Royal Eagles will finally see some action as their first two games were postponed due to some legal issues.
Rumour has it that business mogul Sibusiso Mpisane is buying the Cane Cutters and transferring the ownership of Eagles to his son, Andile Mpisane. Will they be rusty when they finally face the other teams? Let’s preview all eight GladAfrica Championship fixtures taking place this weekend.
Saturday 31 August
Mbombela United 14/10
Draw 2/1
Free State Stars 18/10
Mbombela held their own at home against Ajax Cape Town, coming back from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw. This was their first game of the season as their opener against Royal Eagles was postponed.
They host a Free State Stars side who will be looking to bounce right back up into the PSL after getting relegated last season. Ea Lla Koto managed to edge University of Pretoria 1-0 last week to redeem themselves from the 3-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of Ajax in the opener. Back the visitors to triumph.
Real Kings 16/10
Draw 2/1
TS Galaxy 16/10
Real Kings, who only survived the chop by a whisker last season, are once again flirting with relegation this season as they lost their only game so far 2-0 to newly-promoted JDR Stars. The Magic Boys will be counting on home ground advantage when they host high-flying TS galaxy who head into this one off the back of a 1-0 victory over St. Louis Suns in Seychelles. My money is on the CAF Confederations Cup participants.
Steenberg United 15/10
Draw 2/1
TS Sporting 17/10
This is a match between two sides who are still winless this season. Steenberg have lost their only games so far in the second tier while TS Sporting have lost one and drawn one of their two games. I foresee a dull and cagey affair with both sides looking to avoid further misery. This is likely to end with a share of the spoils.
Tshakhuma 11/10
Draw 21/10
Swallows 23/10
As expected, Tshakhuma got their season off to a good start, collecting four points out of a possible six. TTM will be looking to cement their place in the top three and possibly fighting for automatic promotion. On the other hand, Swallows who purchased Maccabi FC’s status are winless with one draw and one defeat. Tshakhuma look like a banker here, let’s get on!
Sunday 1 September
Ajax Cape Town 9/10
Draw 22/10
Uthongathi 28/10
Ajax are currently placed second with four points out of a possible six. Youngster, Grant Magerman, scored a brace in the opener with veteran striker Eleazar Rodgers also finding the back of the net. Zambian midfielder Roderick Kabwe netted for the Urban Warriors in the recent encounter which ended in a 1-1 draw against Mbombela. This terrifying attack face an Uthongathi side who are yet to kick a football this season. The hosts have the upper hand and they should triumph here.
University of Pretoria 14/10
Draw 2/1
Jomo Cosmos 18/10
University of Pretoria are just one spot above Jomo Cosmos on the log as they lie seventh and eighth respectively. AmaTuks have one win and one defeat while Ezenkosi have drawn both their opening games, sharing the spoils with both TS Galaxy and title-chasing Tshakhuma. I foresee Jomo Sono’s troops collecting maximum points against a lesser opponent compared to the previous two.
Richards Bay 12/10
Draw 2/1
Cape Umoya United 22/10
Richards Bay are one of the four teams who remain unbeaten after two games and they also have four points. That’s the same amount of points as the top-placed side but Natal Rich Boyz are fourth on the log due to goal difference.
Cape Umoya United are just one spot below them as they have collected three points with one win and one defeat. This is a tough one to call but I’ll back Richards Bay due to home ground advantage.
Royal Eagles 15/10
Draw 2/1
JDR Stars 17/10
This is a clash between a side who has never played this season due to some legal issues and the table toppers. Newly-promoted JDR Stars have started their season very well, collecting four points out of a possible six.
Royal Eagles missed out on PSL promotion after failing to get the better of Maritzburg United in the play-offs and the goal should be to gain automatic promotion this season. I’m leaning towards the visitors due to Eagles’ internal battles.
TREBLE @ 10/1
Tshakhuma Win 11/10
Ajax Cape Town Win 9/10
JDR Stars Win 17/10
Written by Benedict Ngwenya
