Our football analyst previews the NFD Week 27 action which kicks off on Tuesday 18 August 2020.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Tuesday 18 August
Ajax Cape Town 11/10
Draw 22/10
Swallows 24/10
Top-placed Ajax lost 1-0 to promotion-chasing Tshakhuma who have now climbed to third on the log. The Urban Warriors are now six points clear of second-placed Swallows who visit them this week. A victory for the Dube Birds would cut the gap to three points which gives this fixture a do or die sign. The visitors are unbeaten in the last three games and I foresee their momentum propelling them to victory here.
University of Pretoria 12/10
Draw 2/1
Richards Bay 47/20
Both teams are winless in the last three games with University of Pretoria losing one of those while Richards Bay lost two in succession. This should be a boring, dull and low scoring encounter between two teams who play disjointed football. Put your money on a draw.
TS Sporting 2/1
Draw 2/1
Steenberg United 14/10
TS Sporting are winless in the last five games and they head into this encounter off the back of four consecutive draws. Abantu Bemthetho have been playing well but their ineptitudes in front of goal letting them down. Steenberg are also winless in the last five games with three of those ending in draws. Another stalemate involving these teams is on the cards.
Wednesday 19 August
Mbombela United 5/2
Draw 21/10
Uthongathi 11/10
Mbombela United have won three of their last five games which shows that despite the team languishing in 13th place, on their day they can trouble anyone. Uthongathi are placed fourth on the log and the goal should be finishing in the top three to earn a spot in the PSL promotional play offs. The Cane Cutters head into this clash off the back of five consecutive draws and they haven’t scored in the last three games. I’ll bold here and back Mbombela.
JDR Stars 14/10
Draw 2/1
Real Kings 2/1
JDR Stars and Real Kings lie fifth and sixth respectively on the table. The hosts still have an outside chance of finishing in the top three as the gap between them and third-placed Tshakhuma is five points with four games remaining. The visitors should start treating the remaining games as their preseason to prepare for the next campaign. JDR still have something to play for and they’re likely to win this one.
Free State Stars 3/1
Draw 9/4
Tshakhuma 9/10
Free State Stars will be looking to return to winning ways against after losing one and drawing the other of their last two games. They have a tough assignment against third-placed Tshakuma who are looking to consolidate their position in the top three. The visitors have won four of their last five games and they should no problem getting the job done here. I’m leaning towards a Tshakhuma win.
Royal Eagles 16/10
Draw 2/1
Jomo Cosmos 7/4
Bottom-placed Royal Eagles will need something of a miracle to survive relegation as they’re currently eight points off safety and anything short of a victory here would push them closer to relegation which I think it’s only a matter of time before it’s mathematically confirmed. They face a Jomo Cosmos side who are also in danger of being relegated to the third tier for the first time in their history. Ezenkosi are four points off safety and a victory here could give them a chance over the next few weeks. I’ll side with Cosmos here as they still have a realistic chance of survival.
TS Galaxy 15/10
Draw 2/1
Cape Umoya United 37/20
These teams are tied on 32 points and they have an identical record of two wins, two defeats and one draw in the last five games. They lie 10th and 11th on the log respectively with only goal difference separating them. Both teams have been indifferent this season and I foresee them cancelling each other out.
Treble @ 17/1
Swallows 24/10
Tshakuma 9/10
Jomo Cosmos 7/4
