Pirates look set for another trophy
TAB soccer pools continue to deliver mega payouts, like last week’s four Soccer 10 winners who each collected nearly R150,000, and there are chances galore to win big cash again this weekend including Saturday’s Soccer 13 that comprises EPL and Championship matches, and carries a guaranteed R26million pool! Make the right choices and you could win millions!
Orlando Pirates only have to glance at their remaining rivals in the Carling Knockout to realise that they have an excellent opportunity to go on and win an unprecedented fourth domestic cup competition in a row.
Last season Pirates won the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup in a double triumph for coach Jose Riveiro in his first season in South African football and then added another MTN8 success last month, when they edged Mamelodi Sundowns on post-match penalties.
That all of Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United and Cape Town City were eliminated from the Carling Knockout in the first round, plus being drawn against Richards Bay in the quarter-finals, means it is all set up for the Buccaneers going into this weekend’s round-of-eight matches.
Pirates won 2-0 on their visit to Richards Bay in the league last season after being held 0-0 at home before that. Whichever way you look at it, they have a superb chance to advance to the semi-finals in spite of struggling in front of goal currently and drawing their last two games.
The quarter-finals get underway on Friday when Polokwane City, who stunned SuperSport in the first round with a 4-1 victory, host Stellenbosch FC, who they have already beaten in the league this season. But Stellenbosch have won in Limpopo in the past, claiming a 2-0 success in 2019 in a season when they did the double over Polokwane. Both sides will look at the match as a huge chance to advance to the semis.
The other games are on Saturday. TS Galaxy stunned PSL champions Sundowns in the first round and their reward is a trip to Sekhukhune United, who have yet to really get going this season. Galaxy have not won away since victory at AmaZulu in February, but did beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 last Sunday in a dress rehearsal for this quarter-final encounter.
The other quarter-final is a KwaZulu-Natal derby that should be a fascinating battle between free-spirited Lamontville Golden Arrows and a structured and well-organised AmaZulu, who dispatched Chiefs in the first round. Arrows have won the last three meetings between the sides, but their last 30 clashes in all competitions have yielded 13 wins apiece and four draws. This match could go either way.
The showcase game in the English Premier League this weekend sees Arsenal away to Newcastle United. It’s the opening game in the guaranteed R26-million Soccer 13 pool and the home side will be looking for a convincing victory after an up-and-down October. But Arsenal were virtually flawless in a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United last weekend and will be tough opponents. Potential banker bets in the pool include Manchester City and Brentford to win at home against Bournemouth and West Ham respectively and you should also rely on Crystal Palace to collect all three points in an away clash with Burnley.