With Sundowns looking set to run away with the DSTV Premiership title once again this season, all eyes turn to the tight race for second place where five teams are within touching distance.
Saturday 1 April
Richards Bay 33/10 | Draw 22/10 | Orlando Pirates 17/20 (15:00)
Richards Bay started the season off on a high, playing fast-paced exciting football, which had them sitting in the top 6 for most part of the season. However, the Natal Rich Boys have had a serious slump of late after losing their previous five fixtures in the league. They will need a huge performance to get the win against a strong opponent in Orlando Pirates.
The Buccaneers have been in fine form of late, winning four of their last five fixtures in all competitions. Jose Riveiro’s side got that important win against SuperSport United in their previous match in the fight for second place and will use the momentum they have to go into this match high in confidence and continue their good form against a misfiring Richards Bay. I expect Pirates to be too strong for the Natal Rich Boys.
Kaizer Chiefs 13/20 | Draw 24/10 | Stellenbosch 9/2 (17:30)
Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has revealed that his attacking players give him belief that they can turn around bad situations. Christian Saile, Ashley Du Preez, Keagan Dolly and Mduduzi Shabalala are a few players who look in great form for Amakhosi of late and were very important in contributing to the win against Maritzburg United away from home.
Zwane will expect the same performance and determination from his team as they welcome Stellenbosch to FNB Stadium. Stellenbosch FC kept the Cape Town flag flying with a runaway 6-3 win over TS Galaxy in their Nedbank Cup last-16 clash at Mbombela Stadium. Striker Iqraam Rayners has been enjoying a rich vein of form which has seen him score six goals in five matches.
He will be a player Steve Barker will look to add pressure on the Glamour Boys’ defence. This recent run of form for Stellies in the league is a significant step up after they spent most of the season in the bottom half of the log standings. With both teams playing their best football of late, it will be hard to choose a winner, so, I’m backing a share of the spoils.
Chippa United 17/4 | Draw 23/10 | SuperSport United 7/10 (17:30)
Chippa United sit just four points above the relegation spots and have a bad run of form at home, losing all four previous matches a record the Chilli Boys hope to change.
In 17 previous meetings with SuperSport, the Chilli Boys have won just two games, making this a huge mountain to climb as they look to move further away from the relegation spots and secure their spot in the DStv Premiership next season.
SuperSport’s away form has not been up to their high standards this term, but although they fell short to Orlando Pirates 1-0 in their previous away fixture, they still occupy second spot. Gavin Hunt has proved he has the experience to take Matsatsantsa a Pitori all the way and maintain their spot and qualify for next season’s continental club competition.
Hunt has all the attacking fire he needs at his exposal. The young energetic Zakhele Lepasa and the experienced Bradley Grobler are players who on the day could prove to hot too handle for any defence. SuperSport are tipped to get the much-needed win.
AmaZulu 1/1 | Draw 21/10 | Moroka Swallows 28/10 (20:00)
AmaZulu have not been great in recent weeks with just one win in five and have looked a team low in confidence. Romain Folz has come under scrutiny as Usuthu struggle to find form but will use home advantage to good use and take this match as a stepping stone in the right direction to get their season back on track.
Moroka Swallows missed the chance to pull clear of the relegation zone in the DStv Premiership after losing to Golden Arrows. The Dube Birds will need to treat every game as a final moving forward and put in the hard work and strong performances if they want to keep their franchise in the DStv Premiership next season. As both teams have not been at their best, I’m backing a draw.
Sunday 2 April
Golden Arrows 11/10 | Draw 21/10 | Sekhukhune United 5/2 (15:00)
The win against Kaizer Chiefs seems like a distant memory now and Abafana Bes’thende have not been able to use that performance to their advantage and keep that momentum going.
Although they got the win away from home against Moroka Swallows, they still find themselves level on points with Sekhukhune in 11th and 12th place respectively. Sekhukhune United have not had any joy in the league in recent weeks, recording just one win in five matches.
A win for Brandon Truter’s side will see them climb the table dramatically and move closer to the top 6, but it wont come easy as Abafana Bes’thende have the same idea in place which leaves this fixture a mouth watering matchup. This will be an open game with both teams looking to play on the attack, but I’m backing Arrows to get the win.
TS Galaxy 13/20 | Draw 24/10 | Maritzburg United 9/2 (17:30)
TS Galaxy have been in fine form in their last five fixtures in the league with three wins and two draws, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once. This record proves that the Rockets have been a formidable force of late, being good offensively and excellent defensively.
Maritzburg United have lost four matches in a row and sit one point above the relegation zone. Fadlu Davids will be desperate to change this disappointing run and will be cautious in their approach to the game as they travel to Mbombela Stadium. TS Galaxy have been excellent lately and I’m backing them to win.
Tuesday 4 April
Marumo Gallants 22/10 |Draw 2/1 | Royal AM 13/10 (19:30)
Marumo Gallants will kick the weekend off as they welcome Royal AM to the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Dylan Kerr will look to improve on their 2-2 draw in their previous meeting with the Durban-based outfit as they look to get the win at home after qualifying for the quarter-finals in the CAF inter-club competition.
Royal AM look to bounce back after a heavy defeat to runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in their previous league outing. Thwihli Thwahla will have used the international break to good use to sharpen their approach ahead of their clash with Bahlabane Ba Ntwa as they look to stake their claim in the Top 8. This will be a tight affair but I back Royal AM to clinch the win away from home.
Mamelodi Sundowns 4/10 | Draw 3/1 | Cape Town City 7/1 (19:30)
Mamelodi Sundowns have flexed their muscles once again and showed their superiority in the league and find themselves runaway leaders in the league and one win away from a mammoth sixth consecutive league title.
Rhulani Mokwena has the Brazilians playing attractive football, dominating in all areas of the game and in line to break a list of records in the league set in the past. The Brazilians could clinch the title with a win at home in front of their fans when they host Cape Town City at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Cape Town City keep the pressure on Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the hunt for continental football qualification. City occupy fifth spot, four points behind joint third and fourth Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs respectively.
Eric Tinkler will know this will not be an easy match against a strong opponent but will demand his team come out and give off a strong performance with the likes of Darwin Gonzalez and Khanyisa Mayo who could put the Brazilians under pressure. Loftus Versfeld Stadium will be rocking, and with all the confidence, I give Sundowns the win.
