DSTV Premiership football returns this week and the Friday Debate focuses on arguably the biggest match of the weekend - Moroka Swallows up against Kaizer Chiefs.
Chiefs lost a Soweto derby to Orlando Pirates before the international break and would not want to be on the losing side against another rival. Amakhosi visit the Dube Birds at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.
Swallows coach Steve Komphela, who joined the Dube Birds from DSTV Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, will be coming up against his former club, as the hosts look to continue their promising start to the campaign. Soccer Laduma spoke to three individuals ahead of the game to find out who will win this one. But it appears they feel that these two sides will not be separated come the end of Sunday afternoon.
Hendrick Maoka - Orlando Pirates supporter
"To be honest with you, I see a 1-1 draw. I think Swallows have the upper hand due to the fact that they have a squad which gels more. With Kaizer Chiefs, Cavin Johnson is still doing trial and error to find a squad that can deliver. It's not easy inheriting a team in the middle of the season with the pressure being high to deliver instant results. So yes, I think it will be a draw when you look at the situations between the two sides."
Lucky Lekgwathi - former Pirates captain
"It's a tough one, but I am going for a draw. Swallows are playing well under Steve Komphela. Chiefs have not been too bad. They lost the Soweto derby, but they are not a bad team. They want to collect points and they would not want to lose against their former coach in Steve Komphela. But at the same time, Komphela would not want to lose to Chiefs, you understand? Komphela was at Chiefs and he will definitely be looking to get a win. That's why I believe that this game will be a draw."
Matthew Booth - television analyst
"I think it's going to be a high scoring draw, purely because of the fact that since 1996, both teams have scored 106 goals, which is an average of 2,4 goals per game. Their last goalless draw was in 2010. The stats show that Chiefs are favourites, with 24 wins, 12 draws and eight wins going in the favour of Swallows. I can sense a resurgence for Swallows under Komphela. Chiefs have to make sure that Swallows don't go ahead because when they do go ahead, they are yet to drop points, which is an interesting stat. The one disadvantage for Swallows is that (Tshegofatso) Mabasa has scored six goals and four other players have scored one. There is one man who has dominated from a goal scoring point of view and that's perhaps a person Chiefs can look after."
Both teams are looking for maximum points and a game as big as this one provides an opportunity to get a win immediately after the international break.
