Our football scribe previews gameweek nine of the South African PSL.
The ABSA Premiership returns with some exciting matches to look forward to and good value for soccer punters. I’m feeling very confident about my picks as well as my 76/10 treble. Let’s not waste any time and examine the matches.
Baroka FC 18/10 | Draw 21/10 | SuperSport United 14/10
Baroka come into this clash eyeing a first win on home soil in the ABSA Premiership, following back-to-back draws in the league – 2-2 at home to Polokwane City and 0-0 against Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida. Bakgaga were cruelly eliminated from the Telkom Knockout by Cape Town City, five minutes before penalties were required in a 4-3 humdinger of a match in their last outing.
SuperSport are unbeaten in nine games across all competitions. Matsatsantsa have won their last three league encounters convincingly, scoring 12 goals and conceding just once. They booted Sundowns, the newly-crowned African champions, out of the Telkom Knockout in penalties in their last encounter. Bafana captain Dean Furman missed the world cup qualifier against Senegal due to injury but this squad has plenty of quality. The away win is tipped at 14/10.
Chippa United 1/1 | Draw 22/10 | Cape Town City 5/2
Chippa United are winless in five games across all competitions, just scoring once in that run. In this poor patch, Dan Malesela’s side have suffered three defeats against Golden Arrows, Highlands Park (in the Telkom Knockout) and Bidvest Wits last time out.
Cape Town City have won their last two league games, beating Sundowns 2-1 away from home and 1-0 at home to Bloemfontein Celtic. They booked a spot in the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout in their last outing at the expense of Baroka in a thrilling 4-3 win. The City Boyz are tipped to keep up the good form.
Mamelodi Sundowns 12/10 | Draw 21/10 | Kaizer Chiefs 21/10
Sundowns need to get down to business in ABSA Premiership. They are five games behind the rest and have struggled to adjust when they returned victorious from Egypt. They have the best team on the continent and will need to start proving it in Mzansi. Tebogo Langerman is a doubt after picking up a hamstring strain whilst with Bafana.
Amakhosi are unbeaten in six ABSA Premiership matches. Chiefs drew goalless against Pirates and Baroka during George Maluleka’s suspension. He is back and will look to get amongst the goals in the next two games against Sundowns and SuperSport to put Amakhosi back on top of the table. A close affair is expected but Bafana ba Style are tipped to show their class and bag the win.
Orlando Pirates 5/10 | Draw 26/10 | Free State Stars 11/2
The Buccaneers need to pull up their socks as they are winless in their last five ABSA Premiership matches. They struggled to four consecutive draws until they met SuperSport who embarrassed the Soweto club thrashing them 6-1, resulting in manager Muhsin Ertugral resigning from his post. They bounced back against Highlands Park, winning 2-1 in the Telkom Knockout and need to build on that momentum.
Free State Stars are yet to pick up a win in eight league games. However, they defeated Bidvest Wits 3-1 and Kaizer Chiefs on penalties in the Telkom Knockout. Ea Lla Kota won’t make it easy for Pirates but the Bucs should pick up three points.
Ajax Cape Town 13/10 | Draw 21/10 | Maritzburg United 19/10
Ajax haven’t picked up a win thus far and seem to be already in deep trouble, sitting rock bottom on the log. It didn’t help that they had to face Kaizer Chiefs, Bidvest Wits and SuperSport in a row – losing all three – but a winnable game away against Free State Stars was drawn 1-1 last time out.
Maritzburg have only picked up a single win all season, defeating Bloemfontein Celtic on the opening day. The Team of Choice have drawn their last three games on the spin. These sides are tipped to share the spoils.
Platinum Stars 18/10 | Draw 21/10 | Bidvest Wits 14/10
Platinum stars are suffering through a goal drought having only netted five goals in seven ABSA Premiership games. Dikwena ended a seven-game winless streak by defeating nine-man Golden Arrows away at the Princess Magogo Stadium last time out.
Bidvest Wits are the only remaining unbeaten side in the league and sit at the summit of the table with two games in hand. The Clever Boys come into the clash winning four ABSA Premiership games on the spin and they’ll be keen to remain on top. The away win is tipped.
Sunday 20 November
Bloemfontein Celtic 12/10 | Draw 21/10 | Polokwane City 21/10
Celtic are winless in three games having lost two on the spin. They have been very poor, especially at home where they have lost all three games. The biggest concern for John Maduka’s side is their inability to score goals, just netting three times in seven matches.
Polokwane are winless in four games, losing twice to Sundowns – 2-0 in the Telkom Knockout and most recently 2-0 at home in the league. The teams are tipped to cancel each other out.
Highlands Park 15/10 | Draw 19/10 | Golden Arrows 18/10
Highlands Park have only won one game all season – on the opening day – and they are yet to keep a clean sheet. The Lions of the North are winless in six ABSA Premiership games, having drawn two on the spin. They were knocked out of the Telkom Knockout by Pirates losing 2-1 last time out.
Golden Arrows’ six-game unbeaten streak in the league was ended as they lost 1-0 at home to Platinum Stars last time out. They need to find their rhythm quickly as they are winless in three matches with two defeats. Sceptical about the straight win, I recommend backing Arrows on the win/draw Double Chance at 4/10.
TREBLE @ 76/10
SuperSport Win 14/10
Pirates Win 5/10
Wits Win 14/10
Written by Doctor’s Orders @ @Hollywoodbets
