Downs set for clean sweep

Downs set for clean sweep

Sundowns look set to take a step closer to making a clean sweep of South African soccer trophies this season on an amazing long weekend for soccer punters when 14 TAB soccer pools will be boosted by add-ins or carryovers

By Mark Gleeson

Mamelodi Sundowns continue their trophy quest tomorrow just days after adding yet another PSL title to reinforce their dominance of recent years.

Wednesday saw the club gain the point they needed to wrap up the league title, drawing at home with Cape Town City, and tomorrow they continue the hunt in the Nedbank semi-final against Royal AM in Durban.

It’s an amazing long weekend for TAB soccer customers with no fewer than 14 TAB soccer pools from today through Monday getting cash boosts through TAB add-ins or carryovers. And the cash-boosted pools all contain cracker matches including the Sundowns-Royal AM showdown.

Sundowns won the MTN8 back in December and must be fancied to complete a clean sweep, but Royal AM are a difficult side to get past. They are second in the league and have astounded this season with their performances. Few expected them to do anything but struggle when the franchise was bought from Bloemfontein Celtic just days before the league kicked off.

But they are on course for a maiden cup success and in the league could finish second and compete in next season’s African Champions League.

But even with home advantage at the Chatsworth Stadium and a 12-match unbeaten run, Royal AM cannot be fancied against a Sundowns team likely to be high on energy after securing the league and now in search of the domestic treble.

Tonight’s other semi-final in Thohoyandou is also a tasty affair and is included in a R250,000 added Soccer 10 pool. But it’s a clash in which Marumo Gallants will likely prove too strong for hosts Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

There is also a league match at Soccer City tomorrow as a reluctant Cape Town City take on Kaizer Chiefs, who have lost both games since Stuart Baxter’s departure.

This game comes before the resolution of the disciplinary case against Chiefs, who did not pitch up to play City in this fixture in December at Soccer City because of multiple COVID-19 infections in their camp.

Both clubs have hopes of still finishing runners-up to Sundowns but Chiefs look to have lost all form, never mind confidence.

After their successful exertions in the Champions League in midweek, Manchester City and Liverpool resume their duel for the Premier League title. As long as they keep winning, Pep Guardiola’s side will stay one point ahead, but with City at Leeds United and Liverpool visiting Newcastle tomorrow, there is a chance for one, or both, to slip up.

The more interesting clash is Everton against Chelsea as Frank Lampard’s relegation-haunted team take on his old club, who will not look to do him any favours. Lampard’s second managerial stint might well be his last at Premier League level for some time because he has been in charge of the Toffees’ slide into a now very sticky situation!