AmaZayoni hold all the Aces as PSL race gets hot
MPUMALANGA Black Aces have set themselves up as potential kingmakers or breakers in the Absa Premiership, as they meet the leading contenders Kaizer Chiefs tonight, then Mamelodi Sundowns next Wednesday.
In-form Aces, who have surged into the PSL’s top eight despite the weekend’s 2-1 defeat at home to Bidvest Wits, meet log-leaders Chiefs at FNB Stadium tonight.
Clive Barker’s team will be wary of a backlash from Amakhosi, who lost 1-0 to Sundowns at FNB on Saturday night.
Next week AmaZayoni face Downs at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria.
The Brazilians’ win against Chiefs has left the first and second-placed teams level on 52 points, though Amakhosi have a game in hand. Both will be keen not to slip up against Barker’s potentially destructive Aces.
“And if you go even further than that, we also play Polokwane City and Free State Stars in our next two games after Sundowns,” Barker said yesterday.
“So if you take all of our next four games, we could play a big part not just in who becomes champions, but also who could stay up or go down.
“But obviously this game against Chiefs is going to be huge, because they will be out to bounce back from that defeat. I think it’s going to be a contest between two of the teams who pass the ball best in the league – the statistics show that.”
Aces’ combination of muscle in players such as Method Mwanjali, Mbulelo Mabizela and Onyekachi Okonkwo and attacking prowess of Themba Zwane and Abia Nale has seen them go to seventh in the PSL.
Their defeat against Wits was their first in seven games, and Barker said Aces were unfortunate.
“It was a totally one-sided game. Wits were hopeless – the fact that their goalkeeper match says it all.”
The in-form Zwane, a player on loan from Sundowns, has had a boost in confidence by being called up to Gordon Igesund’s Bafana squad to tour Australia and New Zealand next month.
Chiefs striker Bernard Parker admitted Amakhosi have to be wary of Aces. “Aces are a strong team,” he said. “They have assembled a side of good quality players and they showed that in their recent games. They have picked up momentum and are capable of causing damage if we don’t up our game.”
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