Our football analyst previews the PSL Week 10 action which kicks off on Friday 26 October 2018.
It’s starting to heat up as some teams are one third into the season and fighting to reach the halfway mark in a good position. Bidvest Wits continue to ride the crest of the Absa Premiership wave despite having played a game less than both second-placed Orlando Pirates and third-placed Kaizer Chiefs.
Mamelodi Sundowns, who have three games in hand, lie in seventh position and they know that picking up points is vital at this stage of the season. After the docking of six points, AmaZulu still anchor the table and they will be fighting for their lives when they visit Cape Town City in the highly-publicised clash due to its ticket prices.
Friday 26 October
Bidvest Wits 21/20
Draw 39/20
Highlands Park 29/10
Bidvest Wits didn’t play particularly well against Free State Stars last week but they did enough to grind out a 1-0 victory which saw them advance to the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals, in the process breaking a winless run at Goble Park which had stood since 2013. Wits have played nine matches in the league and won five of them which has propelled them to the summit of the PSL standings.
Alongside Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, Highlands Park are the most draw-laden team with five matches involving them ending in stalemates. The Lions of the North have lost only one of their eight league matches since gaining promotion to the elite league. I think they will hold Wits to a draw and that’s where I’m putting my money.
Saturday 27 October
Orlando Pirates 12/10
Draw 18/10
Kaizer Chiefs 26/10
Click here to read the full match preview.
Polokwane City 15/10
Draw 18/10
Maritzburg United 2/1
Sixth-placed Polokwane City have gone seven matches without tasting defeat in regulation time. It took a penalty shootout for SuperSport United to knock them out of the Telkom Knockout last week after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Prior to that encounter, they had downed Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Maritzburg United are just above the relegation zone after winning just one of their opening seven matches. Despite failing to collect maximum points in four of their last five league matches, they’ve managed to stay unbeaten. Get on the home side to edge just about win it.
Cape Town City 23/20
Draw 18/10
AmaZulu 28/10
Cape Town City have called upon all football fans to fill the stadium and the ticket prices have been slashed to an unbelievable R20. The Citizens are languishing in 13th place after managing just one win in seven games but they were brilliant in the MTN8 which they lifted. AmaZulu will be fighting for dear life as the docking of six points by SAFA has left them rooted to the foot of the table. Usuthu are unbeaten at home but they’ve lost all of their away games. I’m expecting another away defeat for Cavin Johnson’s men.
Chippa United 24/10
Draw 7/4
Mamelodi Sundowns 27/20
Chippa United have endured a turbulent spell under the tutelage of Eric Tinkler. Last week they were knocked out of the Telkom Knockout by Orlando Pirates in a match where they couldn’t utilise numerous set-piece opportunities that they were afforded by their opponents. I was gobsmacked to see Mark Mayambela and Kurt Lentjies who aren’t out-and-out strikers leading the attack.
If they are to defend their title, Sundowns have to start picking up points. They have, jointly with Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United, drawn the most games this season but they’ve been able to remain the only unbeaten side so far this season. The 3-3 draw against AmaZulu and the 2-0 win against Polokwane City are the only two games in which Sundowns have managed to score more than once. I’m expecting Chippa to frustrate Sundowns who lack penetrative edge and the match to end in a draw.
Sunday 28 October
Black Leopards 27/20
Draw 7/4
Free State Stars 49/20
After crashing out of the Telkom Knockout, the focus for Black Leopards is back on the PSL and they have to secure safety in their first season since regaining promotion. Lidoda Duvha have won two of their opening eight fixtures and they sit in 12th place.
They come up against a Free State Stars side that has lost the most number of games in the league, having tasted defeat five times. They are also out of the Telkom Knockout after losing to Wits in the Last 16 and focus is back on the league. They are also missing their captain Paulus Masehe who will be out for six weeks due to a knee injury. This should be a cagey affair and it makes sense to back Under 2.5 Goals.
Bloemfontein Celtic 17/20
Draw 37/20
Baroka FC 17/4
After starting the season like a house on fire, Steve Komphela’s Bloemfontein Celtic have failed to win in each of their last four games. It seems like losing Alfred Ndengane who was the Player of the Month for August has really impacted them negatively.
Baroka managed to beat Golden Arrows 2-0 to advance to the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals. However, the visitors are second from the bottom of the log and they will be hoping to capitalise on a sad team that has some players not receiving salaries. My money is on the home side.
SuperSport United 19/20
Draw 2/1
Golden Arrows 33/10
SuperSport United needed a penalty shootout to knock Polokwane City out of the Telkom Knockout last week. Matsatsantsa are tied of 14 points with third-placed Kazier Chiefs and a victory here would see them getting closer to the summit of the standings.
A tired Golden Arrows side that was disrupted by the accident on the N1 Freeway couldn’t make it in the nick of time to be ready for 15:30 kick off in their 2-0 defeat against Baroka FC on Saturday and the match had to be rescheduled for 20:15. They are now out of the Telkom Knockout and they need to concentrate on getting a spot in the top eight. Back SuperSport to collect maximum points.
TREBLE @ 7/1
Orlando Pirates Win 12/10
Bloemfontein Celtic Win 17/20
SuperSport Win 19/20
