PSL action back on the menu
PSL clubs are facing backto-back league action for the first time this season and there is something for fans in several centres to get excited about this weekend.
After the midweek drama produced seven goals in tight contests that eventually favoured away teams, Round 4 of the 30-match programme has, among other things, a new Cape Town derby between City and Ajax, a top-ofthe-table clash between Wits and Pirates, and a number of coaches trying to suppress their former clubs in the battle for points.
Also, a latest twist to the strange, early-season fixtures schedule has SuperSport pretending to be the home team in Durban this weekend while Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United move inland for demanding assignments against familiar foes.
Stuart Baxter’s SuperSport would have entertained troubled Free State Stars at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria instead of King Zwelithini Stadium in uMlazi tomorrow night, had Sundowns not decided to host Zesco in the CAF Champions League semi-final, second leg there tomorrow.
Baxter’s outfit apparently applied some brain power to the matter and decided to have a lengthy camp here because their schedule already had them visiting Maritzburg and Golden Arrows in the space of eight days.
They will face upbeat Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu next Wednesday, having edged Maritzburg 1-0 during the midweek programme with a goal from Thuso Phala.
Baxter still has his prime recruit, Tefu Mashamaite, sidelined by a knee problem, but there appears to be enough firepower in his squad to handle whatever Free State Stars can throw at them, especially after Stars parted company with French coach Denis Lavagne yesterday.
Baxter said: “The spirit in camp has always been good, but in this results-orientated business, you win a game and it lifts everybody.
“Aubrey (Modiba) made a good debut (against Maritzburg), Thuso was lively and Yeye (Reneilwe Letsholonyane) showed signs of coming back to his old self.”
Arrows, creditably, will be hunting for their third consecutive victory when their coach, Clinton Larsen, and several players face their former club, Celtic, at Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday.
This comes after a 2-0 win over Cape Town City at home and 1-0 victory over Free State Stars away for the unassuming Durban outfit.
Larsen has all but injured attackers Kuda Mahachi and Mauricio Barrios ready for the trip to Bloem.
Maritzburg, meanwhile, will look to pick themselves up from their first loss of the season when they encounter Chiefs at FNB Stadium tomorrow, with coach Ernst Middendorp believing his men can build on their second-half performance against SuperSport.
“I believe we have im- proved. It might be brave to say so because the result was wrong, but the way we increased the pace in the second half against SuperSport was very good.
“More is possible from us, particularly in some departments.”
Middendorp has all his regulars available for duty against one of his former clubs, but will clearly hope to see striker Evans Rusike in particular do better with scoring opportunities.
In the National First Division, AmaZulu’s unbeaten start to the season will be tested by Tuks at Princess Magogo Stadium tomorrow.
Young Usuthu skipper, Thapelo Nyongo, said: “We have started well by getting four points from two away matches and three from one home game, and we hope to continue on this path.
“Because Tuks are also likely to be fighting for promotion this season, it is important for us to take three points off them, especially at home.”
AmaZulu coach Joey Antipas has used most of his experienced new players so far, but there remains uncertainty about the arrival of Congolese recruit Kule Mbombo. Cape Town City v Ajax. Platinum v Baroka, Polokwane v Highlands, Chiefs v Maritzburg, SuperSport v FS Stars, Wits v Pirates. Celtic v Arrows Stellenbosch v Eagles, All Stars v Santos. FC Cape Town v Kings, Leopards v Milano, AmaZulu v Tuks, Spurs v Magesi, Mbombela v Thanda Cosmos v Bucks