Stellies okay with change

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker (below) was relieved to find out that Mamelodi Sundowns had requested that the Premier Soccer League reinstate their Absa Premiership match tonight.

“I am happy that the game is scheduled to take place on the 11th again because our next game would have been on the 21st,” said Barker.

Initially the game was supposed to be at Stellenbosch’s home ground, but after initially postponing the game because of Masandawana’s Caf Champions League commitments in Casablanca, the PSL then agreed to stage the match this evening, but at Sundowns’ home at Loftus Stadium instead.

Stellies are definitely struggling to find their feet in the topflight as they find themselves pegged to the bottom of the table after 13 games. The Mother City-based side will be meeting Masandawana for the first time ever when they clash this evening.

Sundowns will be playing a second game in four days tonight and will play a third game in the space of a week when they travel to the Moses Mabhida Stadium to meet Maritzburg United in the Telkom Knockout final this Saturday.

With little rest after their goalless draw with Wydad Casablanca in Morocco in the Caf Champions League, Downs head coach Pitso Mosimane is likely to field a fringe side tonight with one eye already on the final. Striker Mauricio Affonso was one of those who Mosimane might look to as he did not play in Morocco after failing a late fitness test. The lanky striker is now available for selection.

Some sections of Masandawana fans seem to want more from Affonso, but Mosimane insists that the Uruguayan is a traditional goal-poacher.

“What you see is what you get with Mauricio, so don’t look for more. We bought him here for that exact role,” said Mosimane.