The SA Premiership action continues on Friday the 4th of September with two fixtures on the schedule. Marumo Gallants welcome Polokwane City, while Richards Bay face AmaZulu in a KwaZulu-Natal derby. We take a closer look at both encounters from a betting angle below.
FRIDAY:
Marumo Gallants vs Polokwane City – click here to bet
Marumo Gallants currently sit 15th on the Premiership table with 1 point from their opening four matches. They began their campaign with a goalless home draw against Kruger United before suffering three consecutive defeats.
Gallants were beaten 3-1 away to Stellenbosch before losing 2-0 against Mamelodi Sundowns. Their most recent match ended in a narrow 3-2 home defeat to TS Galaxy, meaning they have conceded eight goals while scoring only three this season.
Polokwane City occupy 11th place on the log with 5 points after four matches played. They opened their campaign with an impressive 2-1 victory away to Richards Bay before producing an entertaining 3-3 home draw against Stellenbosch.
Polokwane then suffered their first defeat of the season when they lost 2-0 away to Sekhukhune United. Their latest fixture ended in a goalless home draw against Milford FC, leaving them in a tough position after an inconsistent first month of league action.
Head-to-Head:
The last six meetings between the sides have produced two victories for Marumo Gallants, three draws and one Polokwane City win. Their two league encounters last season both ended 1-1, while three of the previous four league meetings have finished level.
Odds: Marumo Gallants 2.60 | Draw 3.00 | Polokwane City 3.15
Verdict:
Marumo Gallants remain without a victory this season and enter the contest following three defeats on the trot. Although they showed greater attacking threat against TS Galaxy, their defensive record remains a concern after conceding frequently in four matches.
Polokwane City have been more competitive, losing only once and collecting points from three of their opening four fixtures. However, their last two matches have produced just one point and no goals.
With the last three league meetings between these sides ending in draws, another closely contested encounter appears likely. Neither team has displayed enough consistency to inspire confidence in the outright win market, making the draw my preferred pick for this encounter.
Bet: Draw at 3.00
Richards Bay vs AmaZulu – click here to bet
Richards Bay are in 12th place on the leaderboard having earned 3 points from their opening four matches. They kicked things off with a 2-1 home defeat to Polokwane City before settling for three consecutive draws.
They drew 1-1 away to Chippa United before recording the same result against Durban City. Their most recent fixture ended in a 2-2 home draw against Kaizer Chiefs, where they produced a competitive display against one of the division’s strongest sides.
AmaZulu sit 4th on the log with 7 points after four matches played. They opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory away to Stellenbosch before picking up an impressive 1-1 home stalemate against Orlando Pirates.
AmaZulu followed that result with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Siwelele. However, they suffered their first league defeat in their latest fixture as Mamelodi Sundowns beat them 5-2 in commanding fashion.
Head-to-Head:
AmaZulu have won four of the last six meetings between the sides, while Richards Bay have claimed two victories. Their first meeting last season resulted in a 2-0 win for Richards Bay but this fired AmaZulu up and thereafter they won 1-0 in the Nedbank Cup and then won the reverse league fixture 2-1 at home.
Odds: Richards Bay 2.90 | Draw 2.90 | AmaZulu 3.00
Verdict:
Richards Bay are still searching for their first victory of the campaign but three consecutive draws demonstrate that they have become difficult to beat. Their latest performance against Kaizer Chiefs was particularly encouraging, although they are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
AmaZulu’s heavy defeat to Sundowns brought their unbeaten start to an end but they had collected seven points from their opening three matches. Their victories over Stellenbosch and Siwelele, together with a draw against Orlando Pirates, suggest they remain in promising form despite that setback.
AmaZulu have won four of the last five meetings with Richards Bay and possess the stronger early season record. With both sides offered at similar prices, I am backing the visitors to recover from their defeat and edge the KwaZulu-Natal derby.
Bet: AmaZulu to Win at 3.00
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
