Pep wary of in-form Spurs as City seek to wrap up title
MIHLALI BALEKA
HIGHLANDS Park’s Peter Shalulile is hoping to finish off the season on a high note after an impressive second half in the National First Division (NFD).
The talisman scored 13 of their 56 goals that saw the Lions of the North clinching automatic promotion back to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Shalulile endured a six-month injury that saw him ruled out for the first stanza of the campaign.
However, having worked his way back to full fitness in the past four months, he has his eyes set on the NFD golden boot accolade.
“As a player, I would like to take the top goal scorer award,” Shalulile said during their training session on Thursday.
“I would like to break records in the upcoming games”.
Shalulile will have to continue with his scoring spree in their dead-rubber match against Mthatha Bucks this afternoon, who are currently bottom of the log.
After managing only one goal in Highlands Park’s maiden season in elite football two seasons ago, the 24-year-old knows that in the next campaign he’ll have to do better.
“My targets in the PSL are the same as this season,’’ Shalulile said. “I want us to play as a team and win as a team as well. Personally I’ll push more, and who knows I might take the top scorer award.”
Shalulile trails the league’s all-time top scorer Phumelele Bhengu by nine goals.
After Bhengu’s remarkable display in the NFD, he went on to sign for Supersport United, but eventually – like a good many other marksmen from the second tier – he failed to live up to the expectations.
However Shalulile is confident that he’ll have a prolonged stay in the Tembisa-based club where he hopes to make a mark for himself in top flight football.
“I am happy where I am,” he said.
“If another team shows interest in my services, I’ll tell them that I prefer staying here. ” LONDON: Manchester City will be without Sergio Aguero for their Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur today as they try to get back on track after three consecutive defeats.
City missed the chance of sealing the league title when they lost 3-2 to Manchester United at home last week, either side of defeats by Liverpool in the Champions League.
Victory over in-form Tottenham at Wembley and a United loss to bottom club West Bromwich Albion tomorrow would allow Pep Guardiola’s side to start celebrating.
But City have injury problems, not least with leading scorer Aguero out, according to Guardiola.
“After Tuesday’s game he said he couldn’t run. Hopefully he will be ready for last games and World Cup,” Guardiola said of the Argentine, who was injured in a tackle by United’s Ashley Young that could have resulted in a penalty.
“Fernandinho is suspended, John Stones is not ready, (Benjamin) Mendy is out. We have 13 or 14 players for the next game plus the kids.”
The Spaniard added that a trip to play fourth-placed Tottenham, unbeaten in the league since losing at City in mid-December, will be a stern test for his side.
“Tottenham is a fantastic team, they have great pressure. They have been playing great with a lot of success in the last two, three seasons and are in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
“It is going to be a difficult game for us.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United cannot step off the gas following last weekend’s derby win over City and must ensure they get the points required to secure second place, manager Jose Mourinho said.
“During the week I was trying to fight that result by working hard, trying to make the players understand that it is not enough to deserve to finish second,” the Portuguese said.
“We need the points to finish second... obviously to finish fourth, we need four or five points, but to finish second we need much more than that,” Mourinho added.
Basement side West Brom have 21 points from 33 games and have lost eight of their last 10 matches, but Mourinho said United had to remain cautious, with their opponents desperate to secure points in a bid to ensure top-flight survival.
“They still smell a chance... it’s a big challenge because in football they know anything is possible until mathematically it is impossible,” he said.
United have 71 points from 32 matches, four ahead of thirdplaced Liverpool, who have played one more game and host Bournemouth today. – Reuters