Maritzburg target home double
MARITZBURG United got the monkey off their back when they recorded their first maximum points of the season, defeating Chippa United last weekend.
They now need to ensure that they sustain the winning momentum and the first test is a clash with Baroka FC at Harry Gwala Stadium tonight. Kickoff is at 7.30pm
Maritzburg coach Eric Tinkler admits that Baroka is one of the tricky sides in the Absa Premiership and must be treated with respect.
“The win on Friday was very important for us but we now have another difficult game at home against Baroka. There are no easy games in this league.
“We want to dominate, we want to dictate our home games.
“In as much we think they are good, we need to show certain amount of respect for them.
“We need to come out and put in a performance like we did in the first half against Chippa. We will continue to work hard, we are not going change anything,” Tinkler said.
Striker Jeremy Brockie made his debut against the Chilli Boys last week. It was a debut to forget for the lanky marksman as he even missed a penalty.
“Jeremy will only get better as games go on.
“He didn’t get a lot of game time at Mamelodi Sundowns but unfortunately people just assume that he will come on and everything will be just the same. It doesn’t work that way,” said Tinkler.
The Team of Choice have struggled this season.
In six league outings they have one victory and three losses, while they shared the spoils on two occasions. They are 13th on the log with five points.
“It was important for us to get a win.
“Now we take the next step. I hope that my team will show the type of character that they displayed last week (against Chippa United),” Tinkler elaborated.
to WORLD number one Novak Djokovic,
blasted past qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4 6-2 yesterday to reach the second round of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
Playing in his first singles match since retiring from his US Open fourthround match with Stan Wawrinka due to a left shoulder issue, the Serb fired seven aces and won 84% of points on his first serve.
“Shoulder is good. I have not felt anything in the previous days, including today, in the match,” Djokovic said. “I thought from the beginning to the end, I played really well and
pictured,
on a consistent, high level.” Djokovic, now into his 271st week at No1 having passed Ivan Lendl (270) for third place in the all-time list, takes on local favourite Go Soeda in the next round.
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov fired 16 aces in beating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4 6-4.
Japanese wildcard Taro Daniel stunned second see d Borna Coric 6-4 4-6 7-6(5), while compatriot Yasutaka Uchiyama took down French fourth seed Benoit Paire 6-2 6-2. Seventh seed Taylor Fritz fell 6-3 6-4 to fellow American Reilly Opelka, while Radu Albot and Gilles Simon advanced. |