Tembo wants a full house

Kaitano Tembo (above) is targeting six points in SuperSport United’s final two Absa Premiership games of the year, the first against Fadlu Davids’ Maritzburg United before Matsatsantsa travel to Tembisa on December 23 to face Highlands Park.

SuperSport will welcome the Team of Choice in their homeaway-from-home at the Mbombela Stadium, where they lost 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs in midweek. Tembo admitted the absence of his skipper Dean Furman, Bradley Grobler and Thabo Mnyamane, among other injured players, is becoming more and more evident in every match.

“It has been a big setback for us because when they are available we are always a better team,” said the SuperSport coach.

He added: “We’ll have to try and soldier on until they come back. The guys who are available have been doing the job well so we have to give them credit too because they have been carrying the team.

“It is very important to have trust in your players irrespective of who plays – you have to have trust in them, but at the same time I know it is not the same when Bradley, Thabo and Dean are not available.”

Tembo described tonight’s game as a “must-win” as he wants to see his side go into the Christmas break closer to the top.

Maritzburg have not won any of their last five league outings, but Davids’ men only suffered defeat once in those five matches and drew the other four.