The focus is on Sundowns in the Betway Premiership title race on Wednesday when the visit Polokwane City and we also take a look at the game between Siwelele and Kaizer Chiefs
Siwelele v Kaizer Chiefs
Siwelele have edged their towards safety with draws in each of their last 3 matches, 1-1 at home to Amazulu followed by 0-0 stalemates away to Marumo Gallants and most recently Golden Arrows. That has moved them up to 29 points and this is a catch up game which, were they to win, would see them climb to ninth and within 3 points of the top half. With an 8 point gap over second bottom Gallants they would look to be safe and they now look to put one over on Chiefs whom they drew 0-0 with in the first league meeting in October.
Chiefs played out a 1-1 draw with Pirates in the derby on Sunday, a result that probably ends any slim hopes of gatecrashing the top 2 places but does consolidate third spot and extends their unbeaten run in the Betway Premiership to 7 matches. Prior to that a 0-0 draw away to Polokwane City ended a 5 match winning streak which comprised of a 4-1 victory at Magesi, wins in home fixtures against Durban City (1-0), Magesi (2-0) and TS Galaxy (2-0) and they came out on top in a road trip to Orbit College (3-1). Chiefs are 5 points clear of fourth placed Amazulu with this game in hand but the gap to second placed Sundowns remains at 11 points.
The Verdict:
Siwelele have done really well but I think Chiefs will be keen to close out third spot as soon as possible and there could be some blue sky in the price for an away win.
Bets: Chiefs to win at 13/10 with SuperSportBet
Polokwane City v Mamelodi Sundowns
Polokwane are in sixth spot and very much on course for a top half finish. A 1-0 win at home to Stellenbosch at the weekend was a first home victory since the 27th September. They are now unbeaten in their last 4 league outings with the victory over Stellies preceded by a win at TS Galaxy followed by draws at Chippa and at home to Chiefs (0-0). Goals have generally been scarce across their 11 home games with 10 scored and 8 conceded.
Sundowns come into this fixture still 1 point behind Pirates in the title race but with this game in hand. They have missed two opportunities to go top of the log, most recently playing out a 0-0 draw at Richards Bay and prior to that they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stellenbosch in a home fixture. Before those draws Downs had reeled off 10 straight Betway Premiership wins and their only league defeat this season came away to Golden Arrows back in September.
Sundowns have also been in CAF Champions League action recently and they won both legs of their semi final match up with Esperance by a 1-0 scoreline and they will meet ASFAR of Morocco in the final staged over 2 legs next month. Their Betway Premiership run in comprises of this match followed by another clash with Polokwane, home fixtures against Chiefs and Siwelele and they finish up away to TS Galaxy.
The Verdict:
CAF exploits could have been in factor in Downs dropping points at Richards Bay but this is an awkward task at a side going pretty well and generally keeping things tight defensively in home games.
No more than a single goal in the first half and again in the second is my play.
Bets: Both halves under 1.5 goals? yes at even money with Lucky Fish
Note, odds are subject to change
