SUNDOWNS TARGET LEOPARDS
BLACK LEOPARDS will square off with Mamelodi Sundowns in a DStv Premiership match at the Thohoyandou Stadium today.
Kick-off is at 5:00 pm CAT. Lidoda Duvha recorded their second successive defeat in the league when they lost 3-0 to Chippa United at home over the weekend and the club has since parted ways with coach Dylan Kerr. The defeat saw Leopards remain 15th on the league standings — two points behind 12th-placed Bloemfontein Celtic and both teams have a game in hand. Lehlohonolo Seema, the Leopards caretaker coach, is expecting a difficult match against the defending champions and he revealed what he plans to achieve with the team.
“We have to start on Wednesday against the log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns. It is going to be a difficult game. The guys have been working hard since I arrived here,” Seema said.
“I think it is a matter of time before that hard work shows on the field of play. We managed to win one game in our last three matches.
“We have to become consistent. We have to try to get one win, get two wins and then three wins [in a row] before you know it, it will become a habit. We will try to work on that.”
Meanwhile, Sundowns recorded their third consecutive draw when they drew 1-1 with Swallows FC at home over the weekend and they are still undefeated this term in the competition.
Masandawana remain at the top of the league standings, but they are level on points with second-placed SuperSport United and third-placed Swallows.
Manqoba Mngqithi, the Sundowns head coach, believes his side is on the right track despite having dropped points against Swallows, Celtic and SuperSport by registering draws.
“For me, this is not the stage to panic. I think we are on the right track,” Mngqithi said.
“Maybe one day we will appreciate the points that we got when the team was not complete as one would have loved because we didn’t have most of the players that normally play.
“And in all these matches we didn’t lose, which for me is a positive for the team. We were not playing against pushovers here.”
BLACK LEOPARDS: PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kabelo Masia: The tough-tackling central defender is set to lead Leopards’ defence in the absence of the suspended Edwin Gyimah. Masia will be determined to ensure that his side avoids a defeat by keeping a clean sheet.
Ovidy Karuru: The versatile attacker has delivered for Leopards in big games this season having grabbed a brace against Kaizer Chiefs and an assist against Orlando Pirates. Karuru could be key to a Leopards victory over Sundowns. MAMELODI SUNDOWNS: PLAYERS TO WATCH
George Maluleka: The experienced midfielder has cemented his place in the Sundowns starting line-up with some solid displays lately and he grabbed an assist against Swallows. Maluleka will be eager to continue his good form against Leopards
Kermit Erasmus: The mobile striker ended Sundowns’ two-match goal drought when he hit the back of the net against Swallows. Erasmus will be looking to score again and help Masandawana return to winning ways in Limpopo. — SuperSport.