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 v Bloemfontein Celtic – Saturday 19 July –
Bidvest Stadium (09:30)
To Win (90mins)
Bidvest Wits 1/1
Draw 22/10
Bloem 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 in
comfortably in third spot on the ABSA Premiership table, they were one of the
most consistent team’s throughout. They finished just nine points off 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 aswell as the League’s 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, Mthokosiz Msomi
from National First Division side Roses United, Chris Katongo from Golden
Arrows, and University of Pretoria defender, Buhle Mkhawanzi, amongst others. Katongo
will most definitely fill the void left by Benjani Mwaruwari and is expected to
form a deadly combination with Sthembiso Ngcobo upfront.
BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC
Bloemfontein Celtic, spurred on by their passionate support
base, finished their season on a good note clinching 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 and he 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 14 starts for Siwelele.
Betting Prediction: 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 v AmaZulu – Saturday 19 July – Bidvest
Stadium (12:00)
To Win (90mins)
Black Aces 12/10
Draw 2/1
AmaZulu 2/1
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 team. 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.
Betting Prediction: 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
thing here.
Written by Wayde Dorkin for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
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