Kaizer Chiefs vs Bidvest Wits – our predictions
The Absa Premiership is in full swing this weekend, with the pick of the ties Kaizer Chiefs’ meeting with the defending champions Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium this evening.
Phakaaathi’s Jonty Mark and Khaya Ndubane give their views on who will triumph on the day, and why.
Why Chiefs will win (Khaya Ndubane, Online Content Manager)
Chiefs are on the high after registering a 2-0 win against the high-flying Cape Town City outfit. Ironically, City had beaten Wits three times in three meetings prior to facing Amakhosi, but they fell short against a determined Chiefs side. Chiefs have generally done well against Wits at home, with Amakhosi having last tasted defeat against the Students in May 2015. Amakhosi also won their last home match against Wits at the same venue, when they edged the Clever Boys 1-0 on the last day of the 2016/17 season to spoil the party for Gavin Hunt’s side, which had already won the league title. Chiefs will be looking to continue their dominance over Wits. Plus this is a perfect time for Chiefs to meet Wits as they are low on confidence. The defending champions are yet to win a game this season. They were humiliated by Golden Arrows at home in their last game. Morale is so low in the Wits camp that I don’t even see them scoring a goal today.
Prediction: Chiefs 2 Wits 0
Why Wits will win (Jonty Mark, Phakaaathi Editor)
This has been a horrible start to Bidvest Wits’ Absa Premiership title defence. After the success of last season, and the addition of marquee names like Steven Pienaar and Daylon Claasen, nobody could have expected that the Clever Boys would pick up just one point from their opening three league games. Yet that is where Gavin Hunt’s men find themselves, with two home defeats as many as they picked up in the league in the whole of the 2016/17 campaign. Wits are out of the MTN8 too, their defence a pale imitation of the one that conceded just 28 goals in 37 league and cup matches last season. Hunt needs to sort the situation out quickly, but there is no one better suited to doing so, frankly, than a man with his tactical acumen. And what better game to sharpen the instincts of players and coach, than a trip to face Kaizer Chiefs on their own patch? Amakhosi have finally won a game under Steve Komphela in the new campaign, beating Cape Town City in midweek, a confidence-boosting result in the Mother City. Yet Chiefs generally continue to labour under Komphela, who is into his third season without a trophy. There is no doubt which side is better suited to mount a title challenge, and that is Wits. It has to click into gear sometime, and I think it will be on Saturday at FNB Stadiun.
Prediction: Chiefs 0 Wits 2
