Maritzburg determined to end slump

Maritzburg United will hope to get back to winning ways when they host Free State Stars this evening in the Absa Premiership at Harry Gwala Stadium.

The Team of Choice got off to a terrific start to the season, getting maximum points from their first two league matches as well as picking up a famous win at Mamelodi Sundowns to reach the MTN8 semifinals.

Since their 2-0 league victory over Ajax Cape Town on August 23, however, the victories have dried up for Fadlu Davids’ men, and they fell to a first league defeat of the season nine days ago at home to Kaizer Chiefs. The root cause is a lack of goals, the Maritzburg side failing to score against Orlando Pirates and Amakhosi.

“In the two previous games we never scored, and especially playing at home that was disappointing. But the coach has been working hard with us this week, and each individual player is also working hard to improve his game,” United defender Pogiso Sanoka (above) told the club’s official website.

“So we are all moving in the same direction, whereby we want to bring in that happiness again by getting a good result. We take each game as it comes. We forget about the past games we have played, and are focused only on Friday’s game. The mood in the camp is great and everyone is looking forward to the match.

“Stars are an aggressive side, they play different football to other teams. They are not one of these teams playing quick transition football. We have watched them play so we know what to expect, and what is expected of us.”

Stars coach Luc Eymael will be looking to build on his first win as Ea Lla Koto coach in their last game, a 3-2 success at Polokwane City, though he will have to do without the suspended veteran Paulus Masehe, who was sent off in that game.