Expect Sundowns to avenge 1996 loss
TAB POOLS GET MASSIVE CASH BOOSTS THIS WEEKEND
By Mark Gleeson
It’s a massive weekend for fans of TAB soccer pools with a variety of bets getting cash boosts of over R2 million and the action starts tonight with cash-added Soccer 4, 6 and 10 pools.
The headline match in all tonight’s added pools is Sundowns against Coton Sport in an African Champions League clash that kicks off at 18:00. Sundowns have chartered a plane to Cameroon for the match, thus reducing the potential of fatigue and stress, and leaving them fresh for next weekend’s clash away in Cairo against Al Ahly.
Sundowns take on the Cameroon champions in hostile conditions but by flying in and out they curtail the time their players must endure the heat and discomfort of northern Cameroon.
It’s the second time Sundowns have journeyed to Garoua, where they lost 2-0 in 1996 to be bundled out in the second round of the old CAF Cup. But that was a long time ago and coach Rhulani Mokwena and his staff will have done their homework and Sundowns must fancied to come away with all three points.
Sundowns did not make a convincing start to their ACL group campaign last Saturday at home to Al Hilal of Sudan, but the first group game is always a little cagey and the Brazilians will be pleased with a full haul of points as they look for a top-two finish in their group and a place in April’s quarter-finals.
Meanwhile the battle at home for second spot in the DStv Premiership continues with both SuperSport United and Richards Bay on the road and Pirates hosting Maritzburg United tonight without their coach.
Jose Riveiro got himself sent off for swearing at the referee in the Nedbank Cup last week and begins the first of a two-match suspension. His second game sitting in the stands is the Soweto derby next week, which makes getting the red card look even more silly.
Maritzburg arrive with ex-Pirates coach Fadlu Davids at the helm. He will be keen to do one over his previous employers and see his team haul themselves away from the relegation zone. Whether the absence of the Pirates coach has any effect on the home side’s performance remains to be seen.
SuperSport are away at Royal AM tomorrow while Richards Bay make the long trip to take on Sekhukhune United in Polokwane. Away success for both front-running clubs looks difficult.
Kaizer Chiefs are at home to tricky Golden Arrows on Sunday in a contest that they will not be relishing. Arrows’ quick style of play could expose the fragile Chiefs defence that has already conceded 21 goals this season.
Don’t miss playing Soccer Any 13 Xtra tomorrow. Last weekend two football fans landed mega wins on this exciting bet, each collecting nearly R700,000, and tomorrow’s bet kicks off with R500,000 added by TAB.