Tuesday brings a host of action in the DSTV Premiership, with four matches scheduled to take place. On-form Sekhukhune host Cape Town City, while AmaZulu battle Polokwane City in Durban. Mamelodi Sundowns face Richards Bay and Kaizer Chiefs plays another Cape Town side in Stellenbosch.
AmaZulu vs Polokwane City | 19:30 | 02 April 2024
Buoyed by a recent 1-0 home win over the Chilli Boys, Polokwane travel to the Moses Mabhida Stadium to face AmaZulu in a league clash. AmaZulu, on the other hand look out of sorts despite their coach Pablo Franco singing a different tune.
Heading into this tie, Usuthu are winless in five consecutive matches, a run which has seen them concede 10 times and scoring just three times on the other end. The weekend’s 2-0 loss to TS Galaxy ensured they dropped to 12th place on the log, and are now 10 points away from the relegation battle.
Rise and Shine managed a tight 1-0 victory over Chippa United on Saturday and continued on their slow uptrend since the league’s resumption in February. They have won two of their previous five games, losing the other two on by a single goal. Their defensive shape and compact organisation is the reason they have kept three clean sheets in five matches. The newcomers have jumped to 10th on the log and a few good results may see them edge into the top-half table.
This looks like a low-scoring affair or no team may find the net at all.
Prediction: AmaZulu/Draw @ 1.26
Kaizer Chiefs vs Stellenbosch | 19:30 | 02 April 2024
Second-placed Stellenbosch will look to avenge their 2-0 first round defeat to Kaizer Chiefs when they face-off in the DSTV Premiership.
It was another case of missed opportunities for Chiefs when they held to a goalless draw against Cape Town City at a sold-out Athlone Stadium on Saturday. In five league matches since February, the Glamour Boys have managed just three goals. They won only one match against a poor Golden Arrows side, and the other three ended in goalless draws. Cavin Johnson’s side are on the brink of dropping out from the top 8 due to having played more matches than the other teams behind them on the log.
The Cape Winelands side recovered their swagger and composure to score three unanswered goals against Royal AM over the weekend, a victory that moved them to second place. Stellies have not lost on the road in their last two matches, with the latest ending in a 1-0 win over Cape Town City.
They are compact, direct and defensively sound. Their pacy attack is sure to give trouble to any defense in the league. Chiefs doesn’t create much chances but they still fail to convert, which is an issue Johnson has failed to fix. The away side is my favourite to win here, but the Double Chance is the safer choice on your multiples.
Prediction: Draw/Stellenbosch @ 1.65
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Richards Bay | 19:30 | 02 April 2024
Just two days after their grueling goalless draw away to Young Africans in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Mamelodi Sundowns welcomes relegation-threatened Richards Bay to the Capital in a league encounter.
Unbeaten in 18 league games already this season, Sundowns will aim to open a 14-point lead ahead of the chasing pack and try out some new combinations ahead of a second leg tie against Yanga in Pretoria on Saturday. Downs have continued their dominance in the second round, dropping points just twice. They have won two of the previous four games, conceding just two goals. Rulani’s side ran out 1-0 winners in Durban, making it five consecutive wins against the Rich Boys in all competitions.
With the relegation battle a tussle between Richards and newcomers Cape Town Spurs, the Rich Boys appear as favourites to be relegated on current form. Vusumuzi Vilakazi has so far struggled to earn much-needed points or better yet produce better football to appease the club’s fans. They have lost their last three games on the road with an aggregate of 8-2. The Rich Boys have kept just one clean sheet in five fixtures and look unlikely to contain Sundowns’ free-flowing attack.
Sundowns have scored five unanswered goals in their previous two home matches and the Yellow sea in Pretoria makes them an unstoppable force. Rulani will rotate his squad in anticipation for the important Champions League tie and that could make them less potent and strong. But I see them winning comfortably here.
Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns win @ 130
Sekhukhune United vs Cape Town City | 19:30 | 02 April 2024
The league’s in-form team, Sekhukhune United host Cape Town City looking to make it five wins on the trot. Meanwhile, the side from the Mother City is fighting to arrest their recent poor league form.
The Sekhukhune soldiers prevailed on their latest mission, winning 2-1 against the mighty Orlando Pirates at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. The result was Babina Noko’s fifth straight win and thus jumped to third on the log table on 33 points. Lehlogonolo Seema’s side have restarted the second round in ominous form and have grinded results regardless of the territory they are playing in. With a tough schedule against the likes of Sundowns, Stellenbosch and Cape Town Spurs in April, Babina Noko’s resolve will surely be tested and passing these hurdles will make them a contender for CAF positions come end of the season.
The visitors are in the midst of a slump and are yet to register a win six matches in all competitions since February. The Cityzens played to a goalless draw against Kaizer Chiefs over the weekend and were lucky to escape with a point, with the visiting side guilty of missing a couple of easy opportunities. Eric Tinkler’s side have secured three draws, either side of losing twice and this run has seen them fall to sixth place. With just five points separating City from 10th placed Polokwane City, Tinkler’s men can’t afford more slip-ups in the business end of the season.
This should be an entertaining game to watch for a neutral as I believe that a few goals will be scored here. Sekhukhune have kept two clean sheets during their five match winning run and they are more prone to concede. Boasting Khanyisa Mayo in their armoury, City might score a goal or two here.
Prediction: Additional Totals Over 1.5 goals (YES)
