Highbury aim to take shine off Stars to boost league hopes

IN-FORM Port Elizabeth football outfit Highbury are hoping to continue their winning streak when they clash with struggling Red Stars in an East- ern Cape ABC Motsepe League match at the New Rest Stadium in Lusikisiki at 3pm tomorrow.

Third on the log table, Highbury are determined to dim the Stars and collect maximum points to boost their league campaign.

Highbury have collected 42 points from 20 games so far this season and are trailing log leaders Angavu Stars by three points. They are breathing down the neck of second-placed FC Buffalo who have 44 points from the same number of games.

Home side Stars are at the bottom of the log with only five points from 19 games.

Highbury coach Garth Dickinson said the game against Stars would be tough considering that Stars would also be playing for a positive result to move away from the relegation zone.

“Stars are an unpredictable side because they recently beat the top teams on the log table, hence we are not going to underestimate their strength.

“We know they’ve been losing a lot of games but we won’t allow them to dominate the ball possession. Therefore, our strategy is to play attacking football and keep them in their own half.”

Dickinson said his team had a great indoor training session after the heavy rain that hit Port Elizabeth and the surrounding areas in the past three days.

He said his players were ready and physically fit.

Highbury will rely on their top strikers, Abdurachman Moodien, Leroy van Rensburg, Enrico Arendse and Damien Christian to score winning goals.

Meanwhile, Real City – another Port Elizabeth semi-professional football side – will play against Mthatha Bucks at the Rotary Stadium in Mthatha tomorrow at 3pm.

City are fighting for a top-eight spot by the end of the season.

The visitors are in 10th place with 23 points from 19 games, while fifth-placed Bucks have 39 points from 20 games.

City coach Bonke Namba said Bucks would probably put up a strong fight at home.

“We are looking forward to this game and three points are very much in demand for us. But my concern as a coach is that our preparations were disturbed by the rain and last week we didn’t play any games because of Easter weekend tournaments.

“I’m worried about the fitness of my players going into this clash against Bucks but they are ready mentally.”

Namba said he hope the pitch would be dry after heavy rains in many parts of the Eastern Cape.

ý Morning Stars will host Tembu Royals at the Zwide Stadium tonight at 7pm.