NFD

NFD: Week 21 Preview

by
Eggs Benedict Ngwenya
February 24, 2019

Our football analyst previews the NFD Week 21 action which kicks off on Friday 22 February 2018.

With the Nedbank Cup Last 16 fixtures now done and dusted, focus shifts back to different NFD battles. On the menu this week, we’ve got top-placed Stellenbosch seeing to cement their position when they host Tshakhuma, Jomo Cosmos look to avenge their Nedbank Cup elimination against TS Galaxy and Uthongathi host Royal Eagles in a crucial KZN derby. Let’s forecast what these and other games have in store for us.

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

Friday 22 February

Cape Umoya United 2/1
Draw 2/1
Tshakhuma 13/10
After losing their first league game under Dominic Isaacs, Cape Umoya United responded by knocking promotion-chasing Mbombela United out of the Nedbank Cup on penalties. On the other hand, Tshakhuma came unstuck against Chippa United in the Nedbank Cup clash.

The log position may suggest that Tshakhuma are a better team here but they are winless in their last five league games while Cape Umoya United have won two and drawn two of those. I’ll go with form here and back the home side.

Saturday 23 February

Real Kings 15/10
Draw 2/1
Maccabi 17/10
Bottom-placed Real Kings have become the whipping boys of the NFD and they head into this encounter off the back of a three-match losing streak. Maccabi are winless in their last four games with two draws and two defeats. This should be a dull match between two struggling sides and I’m predicting a draw.

Stellenbosch 5/10
Draw 5/2
TS Sporting 11/2
Stellenbosch were held to a goalless draw at Mbombela United the last time out and they will be looking to open up or at least maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table. Sammy Troughton’s TS Sporting are winless in their last two games and that has seen them slide down to ninth on the table. Expect Stellies to win at Idas Valley on the Cape Winelands.

Witbank Spurs 3/1
Draw 2/1
Richards Bay 19/20
Shakes Mashaba’s Witbank Spurs have slid down back into the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 with Uthongathi in their most recent league game. They were in Nedbank Cup action this past weekend where they lost 2-1 to Golden Arrows.

Richards Bay are another NFD team that was eliminated by a PSL side from the Nedbank Cup as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic. The Natal Rich Boyz are fifth on the log and only three points adrift of third place. Back the KZN side to win and officially join the PSL promotion race.

Jomo Cosmos 16/10
Draw 2/1
TS Galaxy 16/10
As I’ve already mentioned, this is a “rematch” of this past weekend’s Nedbank Cup clash which ended 1-0 in favour of TS Galaxy. Ezenkosi are in danger of being drawn into the relegation dogfight as they’re only four points above the drop zone.

The difference between them and Galaxy, who lie in eighth place, is four points. It shall be very interesting to see how Dan Malesela juggles NFD with the Nedbank Cup given the limited resources and depth in the NFD outfit. I foresee this one ending in a stalemate.

Sunday 24 February

University of Pretoria 24/10
Draw 2/1
Ajax Cape Town 11/10
University of Pretoria have endured a turbulent spell this season with a mixed bag of results. The hosts have an overall record of six wins, six draws and eight losses. They come up against promotion-chasing Ajax who lie third on the log and seven points off the pace. The Urban Warriors can’t afford to lose ground on other promotion chasers and I back them to collect maximum points here.

Ubuntu Cape Town 2/1
Draw 2/1
Mbombela United 13/10
It’s 14th against fourth here and I think quality and difference in class will be the difference. Ubuntu Cape Town are one point and one spot above the relegation zone despite winning their most recent game against Jomo Cosmos. Mbombela must have welcomed crashing out of the Nedbank Cup as they look to focus on the league and break into the top three. Put your money on the visitors here.

Uthongathi 16/10
Draw 2/1
Royal Eagles 16/10
Both teams are well-rested heading into this derby match having not participated in this past weekend’s Nedbank Cup action. This will be a game to watch as second-placed Royal Eagles look to stay in the top three while sixth-placed Uthongathi look to break into the top three. The odds rightly suggest it can go either way and I’ll bet with my heart and say Uthongathi.