Our football analyst previews the PSL Week 25 action which kicks off on Friday 5 April 2019.
There are six more games to go in the PSL and most teams probably know where they stand in terms of achieving their season targets. I correctly predicted a draw in the last round’s headline encounter between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns and the latter takes a break from domestic football this week as they continue their quest for continental glory.
Will the mighty Buccaneers occupy top spot by the end of this gameweek? Will Bidvest Wits condemn Milutin Sredojevic’s men to third place? Will relegation-threatened Maritzburg United give Bloemfontein Celtic a run for their money? Here’s our full preview.
Friday 5 April
Maritzburg United 33/20
Draw 37/20
Bloemfontein Celtic 37/20
Maritzburg United are four points off safety as a result of losing two consecutive games and the only positive they can take into this game is the fact that they’ve been finding the back of the net on a more regular basis under the mentorship of Eric Tinkler.
Bloemfontein Celtic head into this one off the back of a five-match winless run across all competitions which has seen them slide down to eighth on the log. It’s a match between two sides that are in demise but the Team of Choice should edge it at home.
Saturday 6 April
Bidvest Wits 33/20
Draw 37/20
Orlando Pirates 37/20
This is the headline fixture of the weekend with both sides requiring maximum points to go level with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Big games are coming thick and fast for the Buccaneers and they were superb on Monday night where they played out to an enthralling goalless draw against the table-toppers.
Vincent Pule makes a return from suspension after missing out earlier in the week. On the other hand, Wits will have their captain Thulani Hlatshwayo back from suspension which will give the team a much-needed boost after conceding four goals against Chippa United in the Nedbank Cup. My money is on the visitors.
Golden Arrows 47/20
Draw 39/20
Cape Town City 5/4
Arrows must be buoyed by their 2-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic which saw them advance to the Nedbank Cup semi-finals. Red-hot Knox Mutizwa came on as a second half substitute to net a brace and the visitors have to be wary of him.
Cape Town City were totally outclassed by Kaizer Chiefs who handed them a 2-0 defeat in the Nedbank Cup last Sunday. Prior to that encounter, Benni McCarthy’s men had defeated Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits and followed that up with a disappointing home draw against Polokwane City. Back Benni’s men to return to winning ways.
Kaizer Chiefs 15/20
Draw 9/4
Baroka 15/4
Kaizer Chiefs are unbeaten in the last seven games across all competitions and they have found themselves in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals. Bernard Parker produced a man of the match performance against Cape Town City last Sunday.
Heading into this encounter, Baroka have lost three consecutive games and they have plummeted into the relegation zone as they currently sit second from the bottom of the log. Everything points towards a Chiefs victory.
AmaZulu 23/20
Draw 19/10
Chippa United 26/10
AmaZulu’s target is to finish in the top eight and we know that they are hard to beat at King Zwelithini Stadium. On the other hand, Chippa United are fighting for survival as they are tied on 21 points with Baroka FC who are in the relegation battle.
The Chilli Boys managed to progress into the Nedbank Cup semi-finals last Saturday after knocking out tournament favourites Bidvest Wits on penalties in a match that finished 4-4 after extra-time. I’m tipping the home side to amass maximum points at their fortress.
Sunday 7 April
Polokwane City 8/10
Draw 23/10
Black Leopards 36/10
Limpopo derbies are always thrilling spectacles and these games always attract good crowds and I’m expecting yet another full house. Polokwane City are unbeaten in their last five games, while the visitors are unbeaten in their last three encounters.
Leopards’ marksman, Mwape Musonda, is the league’s leading goal scorer with 12 goals to his name and will be looking to add to his tally in front of a vociferous Polokwane crowd. Black Leopards are well worth a punt at a valuable 36/10 and I think they can edge this one.
TREBLE @ 9/1
Orlando Pirates Win 37/20
Kaizer Chiefs Win 15/20
AmaZulu Win 23/20
Written by @EggsBenedictZA
