Undefeated Bees FC aiming to sting hard
UNDEFEATED Eastern Cape Bees FC will today welcome FC Buffalo in a Buffalo City ABC Motsepe League derby at the Bhisho Stadium at 3pm.
And Bees coach Chippa Njedu has never been more confident that their undefeated streak will continue unabated.
But he is wary of Buffalo who are notorious for rising to the occasion when pitted against a strong side like Bees.
Recent form favours the hosts who come off a 2-0 victory over Amavara in the Nedbank Cup qualifiers – a win that fired them into the cup competition's last 32.
Buffalo on the other side, have been blowing hot and cold and fumbled against Walter Sisulu University in a league clash last weekend when they went down 1-0 at home.
It does not help Buffalo that they meet a side yet to lose nor played to a draw in their own backyard.
However, as the old adage goes 'there is a first time for everything' because Buffalo may well be the first side to defeat Bees this season. Njedu does not think so. "No club will stand in our way, including Buffalo, because our aim in the immediate future is to go into the Christmas break with our undefeated streak still intact," said Njedu.
"The thing is this league is won or lost after the break hence we need a positive closing. For instance history tell us that when a club goes into the break losing, some players do not come back and everything tumbles post the break as one must rebuild. But if a team is winning at the time of going into the break, especially if undefeated, chances are that all your players will come back because they see the possibility of winning the league and promotion which is what they play for."
Njedu though, says he expects Buffalo to bring their A game as they always do against tough opponents. But he warned that the East London side must be cautious and avoid a big score loss.
For Bees, despite having qualified for the Nedbank, their focus still remains being the league, he said.
The Bhisho-based side is second in the log standings on 23 points from nine matches while Buffalo are in eighth place and six points behind with one more match than their foes.
Bees have accumulated seven wins and just two draws thus far in the league whereas Buffalo's record reads: five wins, three losses and two draws.
Offensively, Bees are the third-joint best scoring side in the league on 16 while Buffalo have scored four less.
But it is the Bees defence Buffalo should worry about because the hosts have leaked just three times in nine outings which makes them the second best side defensively.
Buffalo on the other hand have conceded eight goals from 10 matches.
But this afternoon stats will matter little as whoever wants it the most is favoured to win with a draw a highly unlikely outcome.
Other Motsepe League matches today at 3pm: Mdantsane Mighty Bucks v Lion City (Jan Smuts Stadium, EL); Tornado FC v City Lads (North End Stadium, EL); Callies FC v Future Tigers (Gelvandale Stadium); Matatiele Pros V Matta Milan (Thandanani Stadium, Matatiele); WSU v Young Ideas (Ibika Campus, Butterworth).