Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of the 30th round of the South African Premier Division will take place on Saturday at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, where the local Golden Arrows will host Sekhukhune. I recommend betting on goals in this showdown — there’s a solid chance of success here.
Match preview
The Durban club is enduring a frankly disappointing season and, with just one round remaining, finds itself on the brink of relegation, sitting 13th with 27 points. Under the guidance of Manqoba Mngqithi, the team has struggled mightily in attack — just 16 goals in 26 matches — and their latest outing against Richards Bay ended in a goalless draw, only highlighting their ongoing crisis. Their home form is especially alarming: just 3 wins in 13 games at their own ground.
Over the last five rounds, the "Arrows" have managed to pick up only a single point, further worsening their predicament. The possession-based style favored by the coach often turns into sterile control without any real threat to the opposition’s goal. Unless the team shifts gears immediately, there’s a real risk they could slip into the relegation zone on the final day.
The visitors, meanwhile, are enjoying a confident campaign, currently riding high in 4th place with 46 points from 27 matches. Under Eric Tinkler, the side has shown maturity and balance, skillfully alternating between defensive setups and sharp attacking forays. Their away form is particularly impressive: 6 wins and only 3 defeats on the road.
In their last five matches, the "Soldiers" are unbeaten, picking up 2 wins and 3 draws. Against Kaizer Chiefs, they managed to claim a point in a 1-1 draw, once again underlining their defensive solidity and ability to grind out results even in tough contests. Given the hosts’ crisis, Sekhukhune come into this clash as clear favorites.
Probable lineups
- Golden Arrows: Watenga, Theron, Shitolo, Cross, Cele, Zwane, Diabini, Mtanti, Mutizwa, Nguse, Moon
- Sekhukhune: Sangare; Mkhabela, Yamba, Ngcobo, Langa; Mncube, Monare, Mkhize, Makgalaka; Mboeli, Mntambo
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, Sekhukhune defeated their opponents at home 2-0
- The "Under 2.5 goals" bet has landed in the last five meetings between these teams
- The "Both teams to score" option hasn’t come through in any of the last five encounters
Prediction
Bookmakers are giving a slight edge to the visitors here, offering odds of 2.45 for a Sekhukhune win. We recommend going for "Under 2.5 goals" at odds of 1.58 in this one.
