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Nothing excites me more than a good old knockout football. Teams are encouraged to play attacking football to try to win the game before it gets to the dreaded penalty shootout. With enterprising football, we get to witness plenty of goalmouth action, free-flowing play, and the occasional comedic goalkeeping error.
Bidvest Wits takes on Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The PSL champions haven’t been themselves lately and their opponents have been in good form, who will be going to the final?
Bidvest Wits
Languishing in the 15th spot on the table, Bidvest Wits have started off this season with the worst record of any defending champion in Premier Soccer League history.
Gavin Hunt's team has been creating goal scoring opportunities but poor finishing and bad luck, like Captain Diehard at the tail end of There's a Zulu On My Stoep movie, has let down the team.
Wits
have shown some signs of life in their recent games winning four of their last
six games.
Kaizer Chiefs
Steve Komphela's Kaizer Chiefs have had an upturn in form lately. Chiefs are unbeaten in their last five games. winning three and drawing two whilst only conceding one goal. Their form came after they, ironically, had injuries to some of their key first team players.
Komphela, out of necessity, changed his formation to 5-3-2. This formation has worked wonders for the team. The injury crisis may actually have been was a blessing in disguise.
Bidvest Wits record in their last five games:
WLWWL
Kaizer Chiefs record in their last five games:
WDWDW
The last time Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits went up against each other in a knockout competition was May 3, 2014 in the Nedbank Cup. Bidvest Wits won 4-2 on penalties but a lot has happened since then, Orlando Pirates lost by six goals twice, Mamelodi Sundowns have a star above their logo on their jersey's and Trump went from a reality show diva to the president of the United States.
Who wins? Betting odds
Having a more a talented squad and being at home, Bidvest Wits are favoured to win at 1.40 by BET.co.za and Kaizer Chiefs' odds are at 2.10.
Wits may have gotten their mojo back and are starting to play like the club that won the Absa Premiership last season. Gavin Hunt has made some changes in his line-up and the team seems to be playing better. But, Bidvest Wits are still susceptible to counterattacks Chiefs love to counter.
As aforementioned Amakhosi have only conceded one goal in their last five games and four in their last 10 they are good defensively. Bernard Parker and Simphiwe Tshabalala are playing good football, so good that I have personally emailed the PSL to check their urine for performance-enhancing substances.
This
is a tricky game to predict, but I feel Amakhosi are solid at the back and
lethal on the counter which is why I pick Kaizer Chiefs for the win.
