Our football expert previews the NFD week 26 action which kicks off on Saturday 7 April 2018.
With five rounds of fixtures to go, this could be a defining week for most NFD teams. I’ll once again repeat myself, it’s easy to put your money on Highlands Park as they’re currently on a six-match winning streak and last week they continue their impressive form by thumping Tshakhuma 4-0. Why wouldn’t you back them this week. Let’s forecast all NFD results for this week.
Saturday 7 April
Black Leopards 6/10
Draw 5/2
Uthongathi 9/2
Black Leopards managed to hold onto second spot last week when they beat Stellenbosch 3-1 at home and with third-placed Jomo Cosmos breathing down their necks, they’ll go for maximum points against lesser opposition at home to keep their promotion hopes alive. Lidoda Duvha are unbeaten in their last seven league games, winning six times.
Uthongathi had to cancel Super Eagles out last week to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle and they managed that outcome, courtesy of a 1-1 stalemate. The Cane Cutters are now on 27 points and they are one victory away from kind of ensuring NFD safety. My money is on the promotion-chasing home side.
Highlands Park 9/20
Draw 28/10
University of Pretoria 6/1
Highlands Park followed up a 3-0 drubbing of Witbank Spurs and the 7-1 annihilation of Mbombela United with an impressive 4-0 rout of Tshakhuma. That has taken their winning streak to six matches and they haven’t lost a single league game since gameweek four.
The Lions of the North sit atop the NFD standings with a massive 15-point advantage. University of Pretoria have been very poor over the last couple of weeks. They are winless in their last five league games and they have slid down to eighth on the table. Come on, get on Highlands Park to win convincingly! They always win.
Real Kings 12/20
Draw 22/10
Mbombela United 3/1
The last time Real Kings played they lost 2-1 to Black Leopards and that was their third defeat in five matches. That saw them move out of the top three, however, if they manage a victory in their game in hand against embattled Ubuntu Cape Town, they can leapfrog Jomo Cosmos into third and make this match against Mbombela very exciting.
Mbombela have been inconsistent the whole season as they have lost 10 and won 10 of their 25 league matches. They have recorded only one victory in their last five matches and that makes them underdogs heading into this fixture away from home against a promotion-chasing side. I’m tipping Real Kings to collect maximum points.
Stellenbosch 14/10
Draw 2/1
Royal Eagles 18/10
This should be a tightly-contested encounter as only three points separate these two sides. Stellenbosch have a poorer recent record as they have lost all their recent five matches across all competitions, including a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup.
Royal Eagles, who are three points below their opponents, have a slightly better record as they have won two of their last five matches and that has seen them climb out of the relegation zone into 11th place. I think the KZN outfit will win away from home.
Super Eagles 13/10
Draw 2/1
Ubuntu Cape Town 2/1
Super Eagles are third from the bottom and last week they failed to collect maximum points in a must-win game against Uthongathi. This is another crucial encounter against a side that is in the relegation zone and just one spot below them.
However, by the time the match takes place, things would have changed as Ubuntu have a midweek date with Real Kings to catch up on as they were in Nedbank Cup action this past weekend. Crashing out of the cup might be a blessing in disguise for Ubuntu as they can now focus on the relegation dogfight that they find themselves in. The visitors should triumph here.
Sunday 8 April
Cape Town All Stars 14/10
Draw 2/1
Witbank Spurs 18/10
Cape Town All Stars have managed to stay unbeaten over the last 11 matches, courtesy of seven draws and only four wins. Igugu Lekapa’s seventh position is a true reflection of how they go about their business.
Alongside, Uthongathi, Witbank Spurs are the most draw-laden team with 12 of their 25 matches ending in stalemates. I think this will be a game of two teams which don’t go all out to win but to avoid losing. Back a low-scoring draw.
Jomo Cosmos 7/10
Draw 5/2
Tshakhuma 7/2
Jomo Cosmos desperately need three points as they want to finish inside the top three to play off for PSL promotion. Ezenkosi are currently third and they head into this one on the back of back-to-back wins.
Tshakhuma are enduring a three-match losing streak in which they have conceded seven goals and scored none. That has seen them slide down to sixth position. Jomo Cosmos should triumph here.
Mthatha Bucks 14/10
Draw 2/1
Richards Bay 18/10
Mthatha Bucks are rooted to the foot of the table and have lost 13 of their 25 matches which is the most number of defeats by any NFD team this season. Amatholamnyama haven’t won a single league game over their last six fixtures.
Richards Bay are one of the four teams that are on 27 points and a victory should help them reach the magical 30-point mark which is the first necessity to avoid relegation. I think the New Rich Boyz should manage to grind out a victory away from home.
TREBLE @ 4/1
Highlands Park Win
Real Kings Win
Jomo Cosmos Win
