Away win crucial for Baroka FC
VICTORY for Baroka FC away against Stellenbosch FC in the opening game of the Premier Soccer League promotion-relegation playoffs this afternoon could render the rest of the competition a formality‚ coach Milton Dlamini said on the eve of the game at the Athlone Stadium, Cape Town.
“We are going into the game preparing for a win, because this is our only away game in these playoffs‚” he said.
“We take the match against Black Leopards as a home game, because they are only 100km away from us.
“If we start well against Stellenbosch‚ then we’ll be home and dry because we have two home games in four days.
“So it’s vital for us to get something out of this game because there is no other away game,” Dlamini said.
Baroka FC remained in Cape Town after Saturday’s heroics where their 1-0 win over Ajax Cape Town lifted them off the bottom of the PSL standings and saw them finish second last – thereby sending them into the playoffs against Stellenbosch FC and Black Leopards.
But they will have to play without hero Letladi Madubanya‚ who scored the goal that won the Ajax match, but was then sent off.
“There is not much we can do about the situation‚” Dlamini said.
A previous stint as coach of Mbombela United leaves him well versed with the style of play at Stellenbosch FC.
“I know Steve Barker’s style from AmaZulu – and he always brings Mame Niang with him.
“There will be a lot of hustling and bustling at the back for that first ball,” he said.
“We know them but that doesn’t mean they can’t beat us. They can‚ if they use their chances, but we are going to use our strength to take the game to them.
“We’re not going to defend.”