Our football pundit previews the PSL Week 30 action which takes place on Saturday 11 May 2019.
The 2018/19 Absa Premiership season finale is upon us with crucial match ups all over the country! Its exciting times at the top of the pile as the title will only be decided on the final day with both Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns still in it.
Down at the bottom, Maritzburg United and Baroka lock horns in a massive relegation six-pointer. Relegation-threatened Free State Stars need to take points off title-chasing Mamelodi Sundowns to steer clear of relegation trouble while Kaizer Chiefs seek to condemn Chippa United to relegation. Let’s predict how the ultimate round of this Absa Premiership season will pan out.
Saturday 11 May
Baroka 29/20
Draw 18/10
Maritzburg United 43/20
Baroka who have been shambolic since the turn of the year should be delighted that they’re playing a match of this magnitude at home. They were thrashed 3-1 by Bidvest Wits last week and they have to avoid a defeat against bottom-placed Maritzburg to ensure safety.
For Maritzburg United, the story is simple, beat Baroka and leapfrog them on the table. The Team of Choice were superb at home last week where they beat SuperSport United 3-1 with Judas Moseamedi bagging a brace. The visitors’ momentum should carry them through here and I expect them to win.
Black Leopards 9/2
Draw 51/20
Cape Town City 13/20
Leopards are winless in their last seven games and that has seen them plummet to second from the bottom. To avoid automatic relegation, they must beat a resilient Cape Town City side at home in front of a fully-packed Thohoyandou Stadium.
Cape Town City head into this one off the back of a four-match unbeaten run and they surprised many last week when they held top-placed Orlando Pirates to a 2-2 draw at Athlone Stadium. The home crowd will favour Leopards but current form suggests it will be an easy victory for Benni McCarthy’s boys. I foresee these sides cancelling each other out.
Bloemfontein Celtic 13/10
Draw 7/4
AmaZulu 5/2
Bloemfontein Celtic are still fighting for a place in the top eight and a win would give them a good chance of achieving that. Phunya Sele Sele have won two and lost three of their last five games and with the salary disputes ongoing, it tends to affect their performances.
AmaZulu are not good travellers and this fixture is a free hit as they’re not likely to finish below or above their current 11th position. I give a win to Celtic who still have something to play for.
Chippa United 9/4
Draw 18/10
Kaizer Chiefs 14/10
Chippa are one of the three teams on 27 points which is just one point clear of bottom-placed Maritzburg United. Failure to collect maximum points could see them getting relegated automatically, depending on other results. Kaizer Chiefs, who have occupied seventh spot for a very long time, need to win this one to avoid finishing outside the top eight.
Amakhosi might have been able to struggle through the Nedbank Cup and make the final but in the league they’re winless in six games with four draws and two defeats. Another draw is on the cards here especially with Chiefs having one eye on the Nedbank Cup final.
Free State Stars 17/4
Draw 49/20
Mamelodi Sundowns 13/20
Free State Stars are one spot above the drop zone while Sundowns could be top of the log by the time this clash takes place. Both teams need to win this season-defining game otherwise they’ll have to rely on others to do them favours.
The hosts are winless in their last five league games with three draws and two defeats. Sundowns desperately need to win the league to avoid finishing the season empty-handed and their CAF Champions League exit last week has made them even more desperate. Pitso Mosimane’s men should collect maximum points here.
Golden Arrows 37/20
Draw 18/10
Bidvest Wits 17/10
Golden Arrows still has a chance to finish in the top eight and Wits could still have a chance to finish in the CAF spots. Prior to the Sundowns game, Arrows were unbeaten in their recent five league games and their Nedbank Cup exit happened in extra time.
Bidvest Wits have won three of their last five games and it could have been four had it not been for a terrible refereeing blunder which saw officials disallowing their goal. Back a draw here in KZN.
Orlando Pirates 9/10
Draw 43/20
Polokwane City 33/10
Whether Sundowns beat Arrows or not in midweek, Pirates have to win this game. The Buccaneers failed to hold on to their 2-1 lead at Cape Town City last week which saw them drop two valuable points. Happy People have won six and drawn three of their last nine league games.
Polokwane City have been one of the teams to watch this season and their unfamiliar placement in the fifth position at this stage of the season is a clear indication of that. Rise And Shine were beaten 3-1 by relegation-threatened Chippa United last week. Back the title-chasing home side.
SuperSport United 21/20
Draw 19/10
Highlands Park 31/10
SuperSport United have won one of their last five games and that was against Mamelodi Sundowns. We all know how they raised their games against the big guns but tend to be complacent against the small teams. Highlands Park are placed eighth and will be looking to cement their place in the top eight and that would be a great achieving for a team that got promoted last season. The Lions of the North have won two of their last five games. I’m going to back the visitors here.
TREBLE @ 12/1
Orlando Pirates Win 9/10
Mamelodi Sundowns Win 13/20
Highlands Park Win 31/10
Written by @EggsBenedictZA
