Sundowns may dominate again
The 2022-23 PSL and EPL seasons have kicked off and there’s never been a better time to play TAB soccer pools. Look out for great matches and great excitement this weekend, when six pools will start with TAB cash bonuses totalling R750,000. The cash add-ins will generate mega pools, including two Soccer 10 pools each likely to total over R2 million. What a chance to win piles of cash for as little as R2!
By Mark Gleeson
Most pundits are suggesting it will be the same old story in the DStv Premiership this season and on the evidence of the opening weekend, it’s hard to see Mamelodi Sundowns not retaining their title.
They had a bevy of players missing for their opening match of the season last Friday night away at Cape Town City, but came away 2-0 winners albeit with a few fortunate let-offs.
And while Sundowns did not look totally unbeatable, none of their potential rivals showed any signs of being able to match them - not AmaZulu, City, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Royal AM nor SuperSport United.
Admittedly it is still early days and clubs do need time to get into the groove, but the early signs suggest Sundowns’ dominance is not going to be challenged. There are more matches tonight that will shed more light on the abilities of the various clubs, but the big game comes at the weekend when Chiefs go to Loftus Versfeld to take on Sundowns.
Chiefs were the only side to beat Sundowns two seasons ago and also ran them close in the MTN8 at the start of the last campaign. But in the league last season Sundowns took four points off AmaKhosi and were markedly superior.
Chiefs’ loss to Royal AM in Durban last Saturday suggests their supporters are in for another miserable campaign. New coach Arthur Zwane is talking about players needing time to bed into the “Chiefs philosophy”, but it all sounds like poor excuses. Chiefs simply do not have time on their side with their legion of fans eagerly awaiting a return to the glory days of the past.
The Sundowns-Chiefs clash kicks off Saturday’s big Soccer 10 pool and you can bet many TAB customers will banker the hosts to win.
Pirates are at Stellenbosch FC tonight in a tough second game of the season for them and then host Chippa United on Sunday. They looked organised in the first half of their opener against Swallows FC on Saturday, but then lost the plot in the second half and were fortunate to win by a lone goal.
Swallows fought back well despite coach Dylan Kerr being in the stands because of work permit issues, and were denied a clear penalty. New Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is another with little time to bed himself in because Pirates fans also want instant results.
The leagues in England, France, Germany and Portugal kicked off last weekend and this week sees the return of La Liga.
Real Madrid are the defending LaLiga and European champions, and the side to beat in Spain. Striker Karim Benzema is expected to be named Ballon d’Or winner later this year for his huge contribution in helping them to both successes and is going to be key again this season.