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In this video: Benedict Ngwenya and Jesse Nagel
MTN8 2017 Quarter-FInal Matches:
Bidvest Wits vs Golden Arrows
Cape Town City vs Polokwane City
Kaizer Chiefs vs Supersport Utd
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Maritzburg Utd
Transcript below:
Benedict: Competitive football is finally back! What a great way to kick the season off than enjoying the prestigious exclusive MTN8 only contested by the top 8 teams in the country. My name is Benedict Ngwenya from Soccer Betting News.
Jesse: And I’m Jesse Nagel from Soccer Betting News and we’re both looking forward to previewing the quarter-finals of the MTN8 knockout.
B: On Friday night Bidvest Wits do battle with the Lamontville Golden Arrows. And what do you think? Wits are the defending champions…
J: Well, if you look at it, it’s 1st versus 8th. The top team versus the lowest ranked team. I’m expecting Bidvest Wits to wipe the floor with them, especially with the new addition of Steven Pienaar, Daylon Claasen. What’s your take on it?
B: Ya, I think Bidvest Wits are the favourites, and they are going to absolutely smash Golden Arrows. I’m putting my money on Wits to win that one.
B: And on Saturday the first match is between Cape Town City and Polokwane City. What do you reckon?
J: Well I actually don’t know what to expect from Benni McCarthy? You know this is his first match as a senior manager, as a first team manager, so I’m not too sure what to expect. He did say in a recent interview that we are expecting something much more different than what we saw with Eric Tinkler. So I’m not too sure… he’s made some new additions.
B: He’s also acquired the services of Teko Modise from Mamelodi Sundowns. Also signed Ayanda Patose, Bafana Bafana midfielder. And Oberin Gomez out injured. Lebogang Manyama, there’s talk…
J: That’s what I’m worried about. His head might be turned, and I’m not too sure if it will get the best out of the players because when he’s on form, you know what the team is capable of.
B: And who’s taking it?
J: I think Cape Town City to edge it. It won’t be so straight forward like the Bidvest Wits fixture, but I think they will edge it.
B: I say both teams to score, and Cape Town City to win that one.
B: And the other match taking place on Saturday. Kaizer Chiefs against Supersport United. Also known as Kaizer Chiefs… The Legacy… due to some of their Chiefs former players plying their trade now for the Tshwane-based outfit. What’s going to happen there?
J: Well we saw the Paez and Parker combination work so well in the Carling Black Label Champions Cup, but I don’t know, Chiefs blow hot and cold. We saw the last season, they were just up and down. And Steve Kompela. I’m not to sure if he is the right man for the job. He’s been there two years now and won absolutely nothing. Your take on it?
B: Their preseason suggests they are actually ready for the season to get underway. I mean they won the Maize Cup, they won the Carling Black Label Cup… but they lost against Chippa United. So it’s a very tricky one, and Eric Tinkler, it’s it’s his first match in charge, at Supersport United.
J: I’m not sure what to expect, you know with the experienced players. Will they work under his system? You know he’s coming into a new team with his own philosophy. I’m not too sure if, he’ll get the team, buzzing immediately.
B: But he’s always had a winning formula against Steve Komphela from his days at Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City… so I’m expecting Supersport United to win that one.
J: I think I’m going to go with Kaizer Chiefs just to edge it, just like the Cape Town City fixture. I think at Moses Mabhida, although Supersport have been playing recently at the stadium, I think Cape Town, Kaizer Chiefs sorry, will just nick it.
B: Mamelodi Sundowns against Maritzburg United.
J: The African Champions.
B: Does that one not pick itself?
J: Well Maritzburg lost Kurt Lanktjies, and they’ve signed Siyanda Xulu, that’s more or less, they’ve sold in the front, and strengthened in the back.
J: It looks like Fodlu Davids now that he’s permanent manager. Is he going to with the ‘park the bus’ tactic? What your take on it?
B: That what Pitso said, he knows exactly what to expect from Maritzburg United. They park the bus, and they held them twice last season.
J: Especially in that crucial game towards the end of the season!
B: The 2-2 draw which handed the Bidvest Wits the league title, so it’s going to be very exciting. But Sundowns are going to win that one.
J: They should have too much class for them, I think.
B: Let’s look at the special prices for El Clasico proudly brought to you by Hollywoodbets. Who’s your money on?
J: I’m looking for tons of value in this one. I’m going at 14/1, I’m looking at “Barcelona to win 3-1”.
B: I’m looking at both “Messi and Ronaldo to Score Anytime” at 7/2.
B: This week’s edition of Soccer Betting News is available for only R10 at your nearest Hollywoodbets branch.