The Nedbank Cup resumes this weekend with the Absa Premiership fixtures being played in midweek. Mamelodi Sundowns are in the driving seat in the race for the Absa Premiership title after Bidvest Wits were held to a goalless home draw by 10-man Free State Stars. It’s looking like Sundowns’ title to lose and they are showing no signs of slipping up. The Brazilians will be expected to pick up another victory when they travel to Ajax Cape Town, while Wits have a much harder test away to in-form SuperSport United. Faltering champions Kaizer Chiefs are long overdue without a win in the Absa Premiership, Steve Komphela’s side take on strugglers University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium. As far as the relegation battle goes, AmaTuks are in 14th place on the log, only a single point above Jomo Cosmos, who are in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off position. Meanwhile, Maritzburg United find themselves in sinking sand. The Team of Choice are clearly running out of choices and they will need to pick up maximum points away to Free State Stars to give themselves a fighting chance of survival.
Tuesday 26 April (Forecast Betting)
9/10 Free State Stars | Draw 22/10 | Maritzburg Utd 3/1 (18:00)
Free State Stars held Wits to a goalless draw at Bidvest Stadium last weekend. Stars had been reduced to 10 men when midfielder Nlhanhla Vilakazi was shown a red card in the 61st minute, but Giovanni Solinas’ side fought hard to claim a well-deserved point. Ea La Koto will return to Goble Park where they are unbeaten in three matches with two wins over Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town. Bottom-of-the-log Maritzburg United come off a 2-0 loss at home to Mpumalanga Black Aces, their third straight defeat in all competitions, at the time of writing. The Team of Choice need to turn their form around if they are to avoid relegation, but there haven’t been any signs of improvement. Take the home win.
16/10 SuperSport Utd | 22/10 | Bidvest Wits 15/10 (19:30)
SuperSport United increased their top eight chances with a comfortable 2-0 win over Platinum Stars. Matsatsantsa are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions, at the time of writing. Stuart Baxter’s side have won three of those games and will look to keep up their form. Bidvest Wits will be desperate to return to winning ways following their goalless draw at home to Free State Stars. Gavin Hunt’s men are second on the log with six points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. The Clever Boys are unbeaten in six matches in the league with five wins, keeping four clean sheets.In five of their last six meetings, there has been Under 2.5 Goals. Follow the trend.
Wednesday 27 April
11/10 Black Aces | 22/10 | Golden Arrows 23/10 (15:00)
Mpumalanga Black Aces secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Maritzburg United. Amazayoni are unbeaten in three matches in all competitions with two wins, at the time of writing. However, Muhsin Ertugral’s side have drawn back-to-back matches at Mbombela Stadium and will be desperate to claim maximum points. Their opponents, Golden Arrows, are winless in five matches with four defeats in all competitions, shipping 11 goals while finding the net just once in their 4-1 thrashing by Orlando Pirates last weekend.Aces have won their last four meetings against Arrows and are tipped to extend that record.
2/1 Chippa United | 21/10 | Platinum Stars 13/10 (15:00)
Chippa United are without a win in six matches with three defeats, including their 3-2 loss against NFD outfit Baroka FC in the Nedbank Cup last month. However, they have been better at home having won three of their last four games in the Absa Premiership. Platinum Stars are winless in three games with two defeats, including their 2-1 loss against Polokwane City in the Nedbank Cup. Dikwena haven’t won an away game since January when they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at Cape Town Stadium. However, the Chilli Boys have failed to beat Stars in their last three meetings, losing twice.I’m going for the draw.
31/20 Jomo Cosmos | 22/10 | Bloem Celtic 31/20 (15:00)
Jomo Cosmos are at risk of a swift return to the NFD as last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns left them second-from-bottom on the table with 20 points from 25 games. Ezenkosi have now suffered three straight defeats in all competitions, at the time of writing. From their last six matches in the Absa Premiership, they’ve lost five times, shipping 13 goals. Bloemfontein Celtic are unbeaten in three matches with back-to-back draws against Golden Arrows and University of Pretoria. However, they’ve won just once in their last nine travels with five draws and three losses.Despite their away form, Serame Letsoaka’s side have won their last three encounters with Cosmos and are tipped to build on that record.
33/10 Ajax Cape Town | 23/10 | Mamelodi Sundowns 8/10 (17:30)
Ajax Cape Town are unbeaten in three matches at the time of writing with back-to-back draws against Platinum Stars and Kaizer Chiefs. The Urban Warriors will be hoping to return to winning ways, but they’ll need to be at their best against Mamelodi Sundowns. Pitso Mosimane’s side have won successive matches in the Absa Premiership against Polokwane City and Jomo Cosmos. The Brazilians are unbeaten in their last nine travels with eight wins, including five on the spin.CBD, combined of Leandro Castro, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly are firing on all cylinders and they should fire Sundowns to victory.
7/2 Uni. of Pretoria | 23/10 | Kaizer Chiefs 15/20 (19:30)
11/20 Orlando Pirates | 5/2 | Polokwane City 5/1 (20:30)
Tendai Ndoro scored a first half brace to guide Orlando Pirates to a 4-1 win over Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium last weekend. That was Pirates’ third straight victory, including their 3-1 victory over Jomo Cosmos in the Nedbank Cup. The Buccaneers have won their last four matches at Orlando Stadium in all competitions, without conceding a goal. Eric Tinkler’s charges will be looking to extend their run of form against strugglers Polokwane City. Rise and Shine are winless in their last six travels with four losses. Pirates are unbeaten in four meetings against Polokwane City with three victories.The home win is a top bet.
PSL Picks
FS Stars WIN 9/10
SuperSport United UNDER 2.5 GOALS TBA
Black Aces WIN 11/10
Chippa United DRAW 21/10
Bloem Celtic WIN 31/20
Sundowns WIN 8/10
Kaizer Chiefs WIN 15/20
Pirates WIN 11/20
Written by Chadley Nagel
