Stars aim to outshine Bucs

Cavin Johnson is hopeful Platinum Stars can stop in-form Orlando Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro (below) this evening when the two sides meet in an Absa Premiership encounter at Orlando Stadium.

Ndoro has netted five goals in two league games for the Buccaneers thus far, and Johnson admits Dikwena have been doing their research on how to deal with the Zimbabwean marksman.

“I don’t know what it is, but Zimbabwe always seems to develop good strikers,” said Johnson yesterday. “He (Ndoro) makes certain runs that cannot be changed but … we have done our homework, and hopefully we have done it correctly.”

The Stars coach, meanwhile, is looking for a major improvement on the performance at home to Baroka FC on Saturday, with Dikwena suffering a surprising home defeat to the Limpopo side.

“It is a major game for us, we need to at least get back to playing our football, we must try to play like we did in the last 30 minutes against Baroka. They defended well and the ball didn’t fall for us but we were unable to put the ball on the floor like I know we can.

‘‘We were not clever enough in some moments. You sometimes need an X-factor like a [Lionel] Messi, or like the goal Laffor scored (for Sundowns) against Zesco, that is class. We don’t have that sometimes. In one moment, you think Ndumiso Mabena or Vuyo Mere might have it, but on Saturday we never had it,” said Johnson, who will welcome back veteran midfielder Robert N’gambi for today’s game.

“He hurt himself against Chiefs, so he will come back, he is quality and we need him,” added Johnson.

Pirates had a break this weekend after their game against Bidvest Wits was postponed over security fears at Bidvest Stadium. The Premier Soccer League have yet to name a new date for the match, but it will certainly not be played until after the October international break.