Our local football scribe previews round 22 of the 2016/17 season of the ABSA Premiership.
The Absa Premiership is back this weekend with eight exciting matches to look forward to, with the biggest clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night. I’ll be focusing on the other matches taking place and where to put your money. Let’s get to it.
Saturday 1 April
Polokwane City 19/20 | Draw 22/10 | Bloem Celtic 29/10
Polokwane City need to start converting draws into wins. They’ve won just five of their 21 matches in the ABSA Premiership, drawing 12 times – including six on the spin. Rise and Shine’s last league encounter saw them hold Sundowns to a goalless draw in Pretoria. Prior to that, they recorded a 3-1 win over African All Stars in the Nedbank Cup.
After beating minnows Buya Msuthu 2-0 in the Nedbank Cup, Bloem Celtic held league leaders Cape Town City to a goalless draw at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium. Phunya Sele Sele remain winless in three matches in the ABSA Premiership, losing twice, while they’ve won just once in their last six travels, suffering three defeats. The home win is tipped at 19/20.
Golden Arrows 9/10 | Draw 22/10 | Highlands Park 3/1
Golden Arrows have won back-to-back matches at home, with both victories coming against Maritzburg United, having beaten the Team of Choice 1-0 in the league, followed by a 3-1 win in the Nedbank Cup last time out. Arrows will be looking to complete the double over Highlands Park after winning the reverse tie 1-0 in November.
The Lions of the North are on a two-match winning streak in the ABSA Premiership, beating Free State Stars and Maritzburg United by 1-0 scorelines. However, their away form doesn’t bode well, having won just once from 10 matches played, suffering six defeats. Back the home win.
Cape Town City 11/20 | Draw 26/10 | Chippa United 5/1
League leaders Cape Town City will be looking to return to winning ways after losing 1-0 away to Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League champions Acornbush United in the Nedbank Cup and drawing 0-0 away to Bloem Celtic last time out. In the ABSA Premiership, City are unbeaten in six matches with four wins, scoring 11 goals while conceding twice – keeping five clean sheets.
Chippa United will be hoping to build on their 1-0 home win over Witbank Spurs in the Nedbank Cup. The Chilli Boys are winless in their last six matches in the ABSA Premiership, drawing four in the process. Away from home, they’re winless in eight matches, suffering six defeats – they’ve scored just two goals in that run. The hosts are tipped to secure maximum points at 11/20.
Free State Stars 23/10 | Draw 21/10 | Orlando Pirates 12/10
Kjell Jonevret will be targeting his first league win as Orlando Pirates boss against Free State Stars on Saturday, who are winless in three matches in the ABSA Premiership. Ea Lla Koto recorded a 2-0 victory at home to Highlands Park in the Nedbank Cup, before drawing 2-2 away to Ajax Cape Town.
The Buccaneers drew their last four ABSA Premiership matches and recorded a 3-1 win over EC Bees in the Nedbank Cup. Pirates will be confident of building on that win, especially as they won the reverse fixture 1-0 in November. Back Jonevret’s side to come away with maximum points.
Kaizer Chiefs 14/10 | Draw 21/10 | Sundowns 19/10
Kaizer Chiefs will host Mamelodi Sundowns in what should be a key match in the title race. Amakhosi are enjoying a run of 10 games without defeat across all competitions. Meanwhile, the Brazilians have lost just one of their last 13 games in all competitions – that defeat coming against fellow title-rivals, Cape Town City. Masandawana are undefeated in four matches against Chiefs, including their 2-1 win over Steve Komphela’s side in November, last year.
As superb as Sundowns have been over the past year, Kaizer Chiefs certainly have the firepower to make them draw blank. Amakhosi are undefeated at their home turf, while Downs have scored just seven goals in eight away matches. I doubt we’ll see fireworks in this one. Back these sides to cancel each other out at 21/10.
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Maritzburg United 13/10 | Draw 21/10 | Ajax Cape Town 21/10
Maritzburg United have lost five of their last six matches, with three losses on the spin – including a 3-1 defeat away to Golden Arrows in the Nedbank Cup. However, they’ve lost just once in their last seven games at the Harry Gwala Stadium, although they’ve only won twice.
Maritzburg won the reverse fixture 2-1 in Cape Town and will look to complete the double over the Urban Warriors. Ajax Cape Town are winless in six matches in the ABSA Premiership, drawing four in a row, while they’ve won just two of 10 away matches played. The Team of Choice are tipped to make home advantage count.
Sunday 2 April
Bidvest Wits 7/10 | Draw 23/10 | Platinum Stars 42/10
Bidvest Wits have won their last four ABSA Premiership matches at home, beating Free State Stars, Ajax Cape Town, Baroka and Bloem Celtic, scoring 16 goals while conceding two in the process.
The Clever Boys beat Platinum Stars 1-0 when the teams met at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in November. Dikwena have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, losing once. In the ABSA Premiership, they’re riding a three-match winning streak, while they’re unbeaten in their last four travels. A tight affair is expected, but Wits are tipped to make home advantage count.
SuperSport United 4/10 | Draw 3/1 | Baroka 15/2
Title-chasing SuperSport are firm favourites against bottom-of-the-log Baroka FC. Matsatsantsa are unbeaten in 19 matches in the ABSA Premiership, but have drawn 10 times in that run – including two on the bounce.
However, SuperSport have won six of their last seven matches at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, scoring 23 goals while conceding six. Bottom side Baroka look set for relegation, having gone 15 matches without a win in the ABSA Premiership. Away from home, they’ve lost four of their last five matches, failing to score in three of those games. The home win is a banker bet at 4/10.
TREBLE @ 37/10
Cape Town City Win 11/20
Pirates Win 12/10
SuperSport Win 4/10
Written by Doctor’s Orders @Hollywoodbets
