SuperSport, Wits renew rivalry

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jan 26, 2018. 10:30

SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits will renew their rivalry in the Absa Premiership when they meet at Lucas Moripe Stadium on 27 January 2018, kick-off at 18h00.

SuperSport played to their sixth draw of the season when they were held 1-1 at home by Polokwane City on January 23. The Tshwane side has managed just one win in their last 11 league matches, claiming eight points from a possible 33 in the sequence.

Matsatsantsa have claimed 13 points from eight home matches this season. Their last victory as hosts arrived back in late November when they defeated Ajax Cape Town 1-0.

Wits claimed just their fourth league win of the season when they defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 at home on January 19, with James Keene’s first-half penalty handing them the victory. The Johannesburg side’s recent form has been impressive, claiming seven points from the last nine up for grabs.

The Clever Boys have claimed just eight points from as many away matches this season. However, they are unbeaten in their last four games on the road and will be hopeful of a second win on the road when they head to Tshwane.

In head-to-head stats, SuperSport and Wits have met in 51 league matches since 1990. The Clever Boys have claimed 17 wins compared to 16 for Matsatsantsa, while 18 matches have been drawn. The Tshwane team has claimed nine home wins in 25 home league matches in the rivalry, suffering eight defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, Wits claimed a 2-0 home win thanks to goals from Bongani Khumalo and James Keene. The Clever Boys and Matsatsantsa have not played out a draw since a goalless stalemate in the second half of the 2013/14 season.

SuperSport’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with Polokwane on January 23: Pieterse, Kekana, Daniels, Gould, Boateng, Furman, Letsholonyane, Phala, Modiba (Farmer 88'), Mokoena, Nkhatha (Smith 84').

Wits’ line-up from their 1-0 win over Celtic on January 19: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Khumalo, Pule (Klate 70'), Hlanti, Claasen, Mkhwanazi, Myeni (Pelembe 62'), Gyimah, Keene (Monare 61'), Majoro.