TOUGH TASK:
PITSO FACES BAROKA ASSAULT
PREMIERSHIP log-leaders Baroka FC face a major test of their title ambitions when they face Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville tonight. Baroka have not won a league match since beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in September, but the Limpopo upstarts have somehow managed to remain top of the log on the back of a five-match winless streak.
Coach Kgoloko Thobejane has taken exception to those who argue that his charges’ occupancy of the premiership summit is temporary and he will have an opportunity to silence the cynics when Baroka travel to Atteridgeville for what should be an exciting encounter.
The Limpopo visitors have accumulated 19 points from 11 games, while coach Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns‚ who have three games in hand‚ are fifth on the standings with 16 points from nine games.
The Brazilians‚ who were held to a goalless draw by Chippa United in a league match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port elizabeth a week ago‚ could go top of the log if they get the better of the visitors tonight. Meanwhile, Ajax Cape Town coach Stanley Menzo said he was taking it one game at a time, but admits talks have been held about “what we have to do” if his services are no longer required by the club.
Ajax travel to Bidvest Wits tomorrow for a bottom-of-the-table clash against the newly-crowned Telkom Knockout champions.
They follow that up with a “home” game against Chippa United at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday‚ a fixture forced out of the Mother City by the unavailability of stadiums.
Ajax have only two wins in their 11 league matches this season and defeat to Wits could see them plummet to the foot of the table.
“We have to be honest and realistic‚ and my situation is not an easy one‚” Menzo said.
“But the one thing I can do is keep trying to solve it.”
The former Dutch international said the complicated relationship Ajax had with the mother club in Amsterdam muddied the waters further‚ even though it would be chief executive Ari Efstathiou who made the final call on his future.
“It is not easy for him [Efstathiou] either, but I am not afraid of these things.”
Menzo says he is fully focused on the job and believes he can move the side away from the relegation zone‚ starting with the game against Wits.
At the same time‚ he admits to feeling the pressure and said he hoped his players were too.
“They have to deal with the pressure. As coaches‚ we try to keep the pressure as low as possible‚ but it is always there,” Menzo said.
He said he was not too fazed about playing Chippa in Johannesburg at the weekend.
Menzo said there was an element to it that will work in their favour as they will be able to camp in Gauteng after the Wits clash and not lose valuable preparation time travelling back to Cape Town.
“I can’t change it‚ we have to play there and yes‚ we do struggle with away games‚ but I can’t just go into my room and start shaking thinking about it,” he said.
“Of course it is easier to play at home‚ but the situation is also an advantage for the second game in that we won’t have to travel.”
Tonight’s PSL fixtures: Orlando Pirates vs SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium (7:30pm) Mamelodi Sundowns vs Baroka FC at Lucas Moripe Stadium (7:30pm) Cape Town City FC vs Maritzburg United at Princess Magogo Stadium (7:30pm).