28 November 2019, by: Leonard Solms

PSL Predictions – Matchday 13

With the PSL’s midweek return having whet our appetites, we can now prepare for an action-packed weekend. Many of the big guns are out of action, but for SuperSport United and Golden Arrows, there is a chance to put pressure on the league’s traditional elite.

After starting the season so well, Polokwane City are now nervously looking over their shoulders. A 3-2 midweek defeat to Orlando Pirates has left them a mere three points above bottom-of-the-table Chippa United.

Bloem Celtic sit eighth in the league and will be looking to break free of the mid-table congestion.

Rise and Shine have home advantage at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, but that will count for little unless they turn their dismal defensive form around. At least Charlton Mashumba’s impressive run at the other end provides them with a glimmer of hope.

The draw with Bloemfontein Celtic was Cape Town City’s first game with Jan Olde Riekerink on the touchline. Vasili Manousakis had taken temporary charge while the Dutchman awaited his work permit.

For a team with the worst defensive record in the Premiership, the clean sheet in Bloemfontein came as welcome relief. City’s next task is to balance solidity with the goalscoring prowess that has made them a force to be reckoned with in recent years.

Highlands Park were unfortunate not to beat Bidvest Wits in their 1-1 Tuesday draw with the Clever Boys. Thabang Monare’s equaliser from the penalty spot came off the back of a controversial handball decision from referee Victor Gomes.

A subplot to this fixture is the battle between Peter Shalulile and Kermit Erasmus to finish top of the Premiership scorers’ chart. Shalulile leads the way with eight having scored against Wits, while Erasmus sat out the draw with Bloem Celtic due to a hamstring strain and sits joint-second with seven.

City are tough to face in Cape Town when they are in full flow, and although Highlands Park are a match for them on paper, the Citizens are backed to deliver a first win for their new boss.

Old foes Luc Eymael and Steve Komphela face off as Black Leopards host Golden Arrows at Thohoyandou Stadium.

There will be no love lost between the former Kaizer Chiefs coach and the man who was tipped to be his successor at the time. Eymael won the 2018 Nedbank Cup with Free State Stars and appeared to mock Komphela’s .

Eymael’s Black Leopards were humbled 3-0 away to Chippa United last night but the passionate crowds in Thohoyandou make them a difficult team to visit.

Golden Arrows, meanwhile, are in great form. They picked up a 1-0 win away to Black Leopards’ provincial rivals, Baroka, in midweek, clinching their second successive league victory.

This is likely to be a fierce contest with the spoils ultimately expected to be shared.

Stellenbosch were humbled 4-0 on Wednesday by Kaizer Chiefs and will look for a swift response at the Lucas Moripe Stadium against SuperSport United.

However, this is a task easier said than done. Matsatsantsa sits third on the league table and picked up a 2-0 away win over Maritzburg United in midweek. Kudakwashe Mahachi and Sipho Mbule were on target against Eric Tinkler’s team.

Stellies will likely be out to prove a point, but this SuperSport United team should simply prove too strong for Steve Barker’s side.

This KwaZulu-Natal derby sees struggling Usuthu host the Team of Choice at the King Zwelithini Stadium. AmaZulu appeared to have turned the corner under Jozef Vukušič, but they are now one point off the bottom after back-to-back defeats.

Maritzburg United were brought back down to earth by SuperSport United after their Telkom Knockout semi-final heroics against Kaizer Chiefs. However, they ought not to be written off, as they have lost just one of their last nine fixtures in all competitions.

The likes of Sphesihle Maduna and Sandile Khumalo have boosted AmaZulu with impressive performances, while Neil Boshoff put in a decent shift against Sundowns. It is promising to see young talent flourishing at Usuthu, but they have no time to waste.

Chippa United host Baroka at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium looking to continue their rise up the table under Norman Mapeza.

The Chilli Boys appeared down and out of the survival fight until recent weeks. Now, they head into this fixture off the back of two successive wins with clean sheets.

Nevertheless, Baroka are not to be underestimated, as they have pulled off some impressive away results this season — notably wins over Polokwane City, Black Leopards, and Bidvest Wits.

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