1 February 2011
We have yet another Wacky Wednesday ahead of us with a full fixture list on the cards in the Absa Premiership. The last wacky Wednesday on the 19th January saw 17 goals scored and plenty football drama, and with every team is in action again all will be hoping for similar action.
Going into the 18th round of league fixtures many teams will be looking to chase down the leaders or move away from the relegation zone, while one in particular will be looking to extend their lead atop the pack.
Orlando Pirates presently top the league with 35 points, two ahead of their closest rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town. The Buccaneers have gone their last nine games unbeaten in the league and will look to continue that run and secure their place on the top of the pile when they face PSL rookies Vasco da Gama.
The game against the Cape Town side, though, will be no easy feat for Pirates. Vasco have shown in their first season in the Premiership, presently eighth on the table, that they are not a team to be taken lightly having registered wins over the likes of Arrows and Chiefs.
Hoping Vasco cause an upset and eager to chase down Pirates at the top of the league are Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs. Neither, though, have an easy match.
The third placed Urban Warriors will be travelling to the Free State to take on sixth placed Bloemfontein Celtic. The Phunya Sele Sele are unbeaten at home and if Ajax are to get any points off them they will have to put up a brilliant showing.
For the second placed Amakhosi, they travel to Durban to take on seventh placed Golden Arrows. Chiefs beat Arrows 2-0 earlier in the league season and will be hoping for a similar result.
Moving to the opposite end of the table, both Moroka Swallows and MP Black Aces will be desperate to pick up points in order to try and find their way out of the relegation zone.
Swallows will face the tougher task of the two teams as they lock horns with Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians are going through a lean spell in the league which has seen them claim only two points in their last three games.
Consequently, Downs have slipped from the top of the table to fourth and will be looking to get back to winning ways against Swallows. The Birds, though, have also been in a poor slump having lost their last two games (conceding six goals) and will not want to disappoint in front of their home fans again.
For Aces, they face a ninth placed Platinum Stars who will want to make their way into the top eight and a win over the Mpumalanga side could achieve that. Aces, however, come into this match with a revived spirit under coach Paul Dolezar and a win in their last league match.
Another side desperately keen to get back into the top half of the table are three time defending PSL Champions, SuperSport United. Gavin Hunts men take on BidVest Wits and will fancy their chances.
The two other matches of the evening see fifth placed Santos hosting tenth placed Free State Stars and a KZN derby as Maritzburg take on AmaZulu.
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