Desh Parthab highlights some important stats that you should keep in mind ahead of the midweek DStv Premiership games including rock-solid Mothwa, prolific Peprah and more!
The weekend’s action got off to a flying start, with results having a huge impact on both ends of the log. Chippa went down by the odd goal in five, which means they are winless in their previous three league outings.
Swallows picked up just their third win of the campaign to move them out of the relegation zone. The Glamour Boys put themselves in the best possible position for the upcoming Soweto Derby, after picking up a 1 nil victory against Baroka, which means that only Sundowns (14) have won more than Chiefs (9) hitherto.
Pirates will be in action tonight and will be looking to puff their chest during their penultimate (derby) fixture. With that one still being an arm’s length from us, here are a few players to watch in tonight’s PSL fixtures!
The Great wall of Mothwa
Veli Mothwa has kept three clean sheets in his previous three appearances across all competitions. The Amazulu shot-stopper made over 10 saves during that time, with no less than eight of them coming from inside the box. Usuthu have picked up 41 yellow cards in the league, only Baroka (46) have raked up more from all top-flight clubs – which indicates that they aren’t afraid to ‘fight’ for their clean sheets. Amazulu have come up against a Stellenbosch side that have just one goal to show for their previous 3 away league fixtures.
A recap of @AmaZuluFootball ‘s number 1 Veli Mothwa who kept a clean sheet in the critical @CAFCLCC fixture against @essetif5 to ensure a win for the Durban based outfit 👑🔥 pic.twitter.com/HM0e0k9BAp
— QTSPORTS (@qtsports) March 1, 2022
Super sub Judas
Judas Moseamedi (3) is second only to Ashley Du Preez (5) on the DStv Premiership scoring charts for Stellenbosch this season. Moseamedi has proven to be something of a super sub – as he’s come off the bench to net all of three his league goals thus far. Whilst he hasn’t got an attacking return to show for it, the attacker has come on in his club’s previous 3 fixtures (across all competitions). Stellenbosch have only lost one of their one away league fixtures this term – the fewest from all top-flight clubs – so Moseamedi’s fresh legs may just be called upon to maintain their excellent away form.
Official:
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) August 17, 2021
Stellenbosch have confirmed the signing of striker Judas Moseamedi, who joins from Maritzburg United.https://t.co/V5myPkcC7E pic.twitter.com/B9VxLWduBY
Mokgopa’s barren spell
Evidence Mokgopa (3) is Baroka’s leading league goalscorer but is yet to register an attacking return in 2022. The club have lost 12 league fixtures already – the most from all top-flight clubs and it coincides with their poor form in front of goal. Makgopa needs to find his shooting boots sooner rather than later as no topflight club is on a longer current away losing run in the competition. Baroka have lost their previous 3 away league fixtures by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1.
🗣️ “They have players from big clubs in Europe, but we don’t care who they are. I’m very confident South Africa will finish first in our group.”
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 14, 2021
🗞️ Read Evidence Makgopa amazing's story and thoughts on @BafanaBafana's blockbuster #WCQ in Ghana ⬇️https://t.co/UqWphh4oaj pic.twitter.com/wD3pHyc6OG
Prolific Peprah
Having recorded back-to-back league braces already, Kwame Peprah comes into this one with four goals across his previous three league fixtures. The Pirates hitman has been doing the business on the African stage as well. Peprah comes into this one having just delivered a goal and an assist in his previous 90, which came in the CAF Confederations Cup. During that one, he was flagged offside 3 times which tells me that he is playing right on the shoulder of those defenders and could prove too hot to handle for the Cape Town City defence.
🇬🇭 Kwame Peprah vs Royal Leopards FC:
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) February 28, 2022
• 90 minutes played
• 46 touches
• 5 ground duels won
• 2/2 successful dribbles
• 2 fouls won
• 2 shots on target
• 1 big chance created
• 1 goal
• 1 assist
✅ First CAF Confederations cup goal in the bag ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/02u2S6S9Aq
Tough test for Lekay
Wayde Lekay found the back of the net four times in his final six league appearances of 2021; since the turn of the year, the attacker hasn’t quite picked up where he left off. Impressively, three of those four league goals have come off the bench so it’s clear to see that he is something of an impact player. He comes up against table-toppers Mamelodi Sundowns, who boast the meanest away defence in the land, having conceded just 3 league goals during their travels this season. Lekay has made two substitute appearances for his club’s three outings this year, so he may very well be called upon this time around.
Wayde Lekay's 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧 seals the win for TS Galaxy against Chippa 🚀
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 7, 2021
The home side move up into 12th in the #DStvPrem. pic.twitter.com/LoBsdVZ2fx