There’s a taste of South Africa’s elite on Saturday, as four PSL teams participate in the inaugural Charity Showdown at the Bidvest Stadium. Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Mpumalanga Black Aces and AmaZulu will feature in the four-team pre-season tournament which will be played in a semi-final format, with the winners advancing to meet in the final later on in the day. It follows the same format as the now defunct, but ever popular, Charity Cup, which the PSL discarded in 2011 in favour of the Carling Black Label Cup that features only Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. The Charity Showdown will be an important step in the pre-season for the four sides, coming as it does two weeks before Celtic and Wits meet in an MTN8 quarter-final in early August. All the games will be live on e.tv.
Bidvest Wits vs Bloemfontein Celtic | Saturday 19 July | Bidvest Stadium | 9:30
To Win (90mins)
Bidvest Wits 1/1
Draw 22/10
Bloemfontein Celtic 22/10
Bidvest Wits
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt and his charges can only be proud of their 2013/14 campaign. Reaching the Nedbank Cup final and nestled comfortably in third spot on the ABSA Premiership table, they were one of the most consistent teams throughout. They finished just nine points off of champions Sundowns and will be looking to challenge for the title again this season. Their standout player is captain Sibusiso Vilakazi, who was awarded the Player of the Year for both the league and Nedbank Cup as well as the Player’s Player of the Year accolade. The Clever Boys have already bolstered their squad ahead of the new season with several signings. Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United left midfielder, Dillon Sheppard, has joined. Apart from Sheppard’s move, Wits have acquired the services of strikers Mthokozisi Msomi from National First Division side Roses United and Chris Katongo from Golden Arrows, as well as University of Pretoria defender, Buhle Mkhwanazi, amongst others. Katongo will most definitely fill the void left by Benjani Mwaruwari and is expected to form a deadly combination with Sthembiso Ngcobo up front.
Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic, spurred on by their passionate support base, finished their season on a good note. They clinched sixth spot and more importantly, a place in the MTN8. Phunya Sele Sele started the season badly and switched coaches by employing German tactician Ernst Middendorp, who then improved the team and they gradually made their way to the top half of the table. Frank Mhango, known as Gabadinho, is a player to watch out for. The young Malawian forward missed the start of last campaign due to injury, but after debuting in October, he went on to score nine goals in fourteen starts for Siwelele.
VERDICT: Bidvest Wits 1/1
These sides met four times last season, with Wits amazingly winning all four encounters scoring nine goals and conceding just three. The Clever Boys have home advantage and Celtic are a team who rarely win away from home. Back Wits to progress to the final with a win.
Mpumalanga Black Aces vs AmaZulu | Saturday 19 July | Bidvest Stadium | 12:00
To Win (90mins)
Mpumalanga Black Aces 12/10
Draw 2/1
AmaZulu 2/1
Mpumalanga Black Aces
Clive Barker enjoyed a tremendous 2013/14 season in his maiden campaign with Mpumalanga Black Aces as they managed to clinch a top eight spot, finishing seventh. ‘The Dog’ hailed his experienced players in the team – Mbulelo Mabizela and Mabhuti Khenyeza – stating that their experience served as motivation for the side. Aces have been busy during the transfer window, making four good signings. Attacking midfielders Miguel Timm and Bhongolethu Jayiya have completed their moves to Aces from Bidvest Wits. Timm, who was on loan at Aces last season, was a revelation and is definitely one for the future while Jayiya has all the credentials to go right to the top. Aces have also captured two Golden Arrows players in midfielder Thanduyise Khuboni and defender Mzuvukile Tom. Last but not least, AmaZayoni bolstered their strike force with the signing of Collins Mbesuma who had a season to forget at Pirates last term, but will be hoping to regain his form in the upcoming campaign.
AmaZulu
AmaZulu have so far been less busy than previous years in terms of transfers in, but have secured Bongani ‘Drogba’ Ndulula for another season as they plan to improve on their ninth-place finish in the league this season. Usuthu have also signed Zambian forward Bornwell Mwape who joins Ndulula, Lucky Nguzana and Ayanda Dlamini to make up their attack. Robyn Johannes and Jurie Basie are on trial and could feature in this match. The two players parted ways with their clubs, Maritzburg United and Free State Stars respectively, following the end of last season. Both did not get a regular run at their previous teams, and will now be looking to impress Craig Rosslee and his technical team in order to be roped into the squad for next season.
VERDICT: Draw 2/1
Coincidently, Aces have beaten AmaZulu in the last four head-to-heads, with two of those wins coming last season. However, AmaZulu are a difficult side to beat and the draw looks a good bet here.
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