City wary of backlash Palmer have work cut out in dugout from the Sea Robbers
CAPE Town City captain Lebogang Manyama is wary of the threat posed by wounded Orlando Pirates after the Buccaneers’ 6-0 drubbing by Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Sea Robbers, who meet Bidvest Wits at Orlando Stadium tomorrow night‚ then travel to the Western Cape to face guns-blazing league leaders Cape Town City in an Absa Premiership clash on Saturday.
Manyama‚ the 26-year-old Tembisa-born City star‚ pointed out that the encounter with Bucs might not be an easy match after Pirates’ humiliation by defending champions Sundowns. He said Buccaneers “will want to regroup at our expense”.
“Many people say it is probably the best time to play Pirates but I beg to differ with that‚” said Manyama.
The forward warned that it would be a battle to facing a wounded Pirates.
“After what happened over the weekend they will be a very dangerous side to face‚” he said.
“We have to give them the respect they deserve and we have to be very careful of them.
“It is very dangerous to play them when they are in such a state and it won’t be easy.”
City beat cross-town rivals Ajax Cape Town 2-0 in a derby clash at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night to climb to the top of the log-standings with one point more than second-placed Kaizer Chiefs. — TMG MTHATHA Bucks travel to KwaZuluNatal for back-to-back National First Division games against fourthplaced AmaZulu and the high-flying Royal Eagles this week.
They will be facing a daunting task and if the poor finishing in front of goals that they displayed against Jomo Cosmos at the Mthatha Stadium at the weekend is anything to go by – Amathol’amnyama will have a mountain to climb in Durban.
Because of the goalless draw against Cosmos on Saturday, Bucks are now in position eight with 22 points after 16 games.
If coach Ian Palmer is to achieve his mandate of qualifying the team for the playoffs, his charges will need to turn the draws at home into victories.
By not winning at home, Bucks are only making things harder on themselves as they will not want to rely on other teams to do them favours as other teams are also pushing to finish in the top three.
The former Maritzburg United and Chippa United mentor is confident they can get four points from the two games. The targeted four points will be crucial in getting the team closer to position three – an automatic playoff spot.
Tomorrow, Bucks have a date with Usuthu at the Princes Magogo Stadium before doing battle with Eagles on Saturday in what should be a scintillating showdown.
They will be wary of veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvete, who terrorised Bucks defence in Mthatha.
When the two sides met last year, Bucks’ tactical ill-discipline resulted in them allowing AmaZulu to come from 2-0 down to share the spoils.
A win on the road will be just what the doctor ordered, but AmaZulu are a stubborn side and will be even more difficult to beat in their own backyard.
A draw away will result for Palmer.
The team will leave for KwaZuluNatal today.
“Because we didn’t get maximum points against Cosmos at home, we have to at least get maximum points against one of these teams [AmaZulu and Eagles].
“Four points will be perfect for me so we have to win one and maybe not be a bad draw another game,” he said.
Palmer rued missed opportunities against Cosmos but said he was happy with the overall performance.
Perhaps being a former striker himself, maybe Palmer will get the strikers hitting the target more often.
But it would have been difficult to rectify the mistakes he identified against Cosmos as he had a proper training session with the team only yesterday.
“I hope the players will create the chances again but this time they must finish them. No game will be easy from now on,” said Palmer.
On Saturday, Bucks will clash with second-placed Eagles at Harry Gwala Stadium.
In November last year, Bucks played to a 1-1 draw against Eagles in Mthatha.
For now, Palmer's attention is on tomorrow’s game.
“But we can expose Royal Eagles if they have the same approach that they did against Stellenbosch FC.”