A win for the Black Leopards on Wednesday will not get them out of the relegation zone and a victory for Mamelodi Sundowns will not take them in to the top half of the Absa Premiership table.
That is what both teams want and obviously won’t get. However, victory will take them closer to their destinations.
Leopards are rock-bottom with a paltry 15 points from 22 games, and Sundowns are just as dismal with 26 points from their 22 matches. With eight games to go, both clubs are desperate to get out of their respective places and every game can be considered a final of sorts.
”We don’t want to be at the bottom and we don’t deserve to be there,” said Leopards captain Peter Mponda on Tuesday.
”We have got good players and we know we can win games. We have not played badly and although we are at the bottom we are not panicking. We have to win, we know that, and it makes our goal better when we play at home.
”Sundowns will be here tomorrow and it won’t be easy for them. They too want maximum points but we cannot allow that to happen,” he said.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3.30pm but the South African Broadcasting Corporation will air the game at 10pm.
Meanwhile, log leaders Ajax Cape Town host Platinum Stars at the Athlone Stadium. While their objectives are different to that of Leopards and Sundowns, both teams are under pressure — Ajax to maintain their lead and platinum-enriched Stars to
join the top-eight half.
Ajax drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs and then lost 3-2 to fellow title-chasers SuperSport United before bouncing back with a 1-0 win against Wits. The Cape side are just a point above SuperSport who have 41.
Stars have showed signs of moving up the log after Coach Miguel Gamondi and his assistant Cavin Johnson joined the Bafokeng sponsored club. Occupying ninth place with 29 points, the Tycoons have beaten the likes of Sundowns and Bloem Celtic, drew 0-0 with Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos and lost to SuperSport this year, so their form is inconsistent.
”It may seem as if we’re inconsistent but we [Gamondi and I] have introduced a new style of play to the team and it will take some time before the players are used to it,” said Johnson.
”I think we have done well so far and we [the technical team] are happy with the results so far. I am looking forward to our clash against Ajax as they play a simple attacking game.
”They used their speed and quick passes to beat the opponents and we are looking forward to matching them in this way. It will be difficult to beat them at home as they are log leaders and are gunning to keep it that way.”
The game will be shown live on SuperSport at 7:30pm. – Sapa