With the indifferent recent form of favourites Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs providing them with the impetus to swoop into the forefront of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title race, Moroka Swallows are in no mood to falter against Classic at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
”And for a change,” said Swallows MD Leon Prins, ”we are in a position to select something resembling our strongest available combination — with the spate of injuries and suspensions now largely a thing of the past.”
The Birds demonstrated their mettle last week when they pricked the Jomo Cosmos revival balloon with a clear-cut 2-0 victory and accounted for the team that eliminated both Chiefs and Pirates on the way to the Coca-Cola Cup final in a thorough, business-like fashion.
But Prins is not without his doubts.
”Too often in the past we have faltered at the very moment when we have been on the verge of big things,” he said. ”A victory over Classic will not only elevate Swallows to third position in the log, but it will enable us to break through a psychological barrier at the same time.”
With 2m-tall Senegalese striker Mame Niang a veritable tower of strength up front, the Birds look compact and solid in all departments and have a bevy of stars in Nigerian goalkeeper Greg Etafia, Bafana midfielder Alfred Phiri and the burgeoning Tsweu Mokoro who can hold their own with the best in the PSL.
Meanwhile, at the bottom end of the log, Bush Bucks will be desperate for points when they host Santos at the East London Stadium in Wednesday’s other PSL fixture.
But Santos, who ended a veritable epidemic of 10 draws with a victory against Classic last week, have the incentive of knowing another victory could elevate them three places in the log to a respectable seventh position. — Sapa