/ 12 September 2011

Frustrated Wits finally get to test Sundowns

Veteran Bidvest Wits midfielder Stanton Fredericks expects his enthusiastic teammates to offer a strong challenge to the star-studded Mamelodi Sundowns outfit in their Premiership clash in Nelspruit on Tuesday evening.

Second-placed Sundowns are gradually starting to gel in a new system employed by coach Johan Neeskens, while coach Roger de Sa’s Wits, traditional giant killers, look to improve in the log.

“With Neeskens as their coach, Sundowns have been playing the Dutch way of being attack minded and ensuring that they keep possession,” Fredericks said.

“We are also an attacking side and want the three points that will be on offer, so it should be a good spectacle.”

Wits are ninth on the table, having dealt with the frustration of being inactive over the last three weeks during the final rounds of the MTN8 Cup competition.

Refreshers
Wits have assembled a win, a loss and a draw from their three games in the league campaign.

“To be honest, these stop-starts can be a bit of a frustration,” said Fredericks.

“Having said that, there are some positives because players can get more refreshed or get over injuries.

“As a team we have some momentum going and the break has given us a chance to work on some things that have not been working well for us.”

Sundowns, who carry seven points from two wins and a draw in the season, can top the standings should they win the match.

The Brazilians have welcomed back top striker Katlego Mphela, who returned to training after recovering from a knee injury ahead of Bafana Bafana’s away match to Niger two weeks ago.

New signing in Bafana and former Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder, Hlompho Kekana, is expected to make his club debut against the Clever Boys.

Injury scares
In the evening’s other fixture, Jomo Cosmos play AmaZulu in Daveyton, with Cosmos in search of their first points of the season.

Besides Ezenkosi, only Santos and Golden Arrows are yet to get off the mark in the league with all three sides having lost all their matches.

Cosmos were, however, slightly in front of the other two sides, ahead of the midweek fixtures, with a better goal difference.

Ezenkosi owner and coach Jomo Sono had some injury scares ahead of the match, with defender Thapelo Tshilo and midfielder McDonald Nhlapho picking up knee and ankle injuries at training.

They were both ruled out of the fixture.

However, goalkeeper Avril Phali and diminutive midfielder Tshidiso Tukane have recovered from their respective groin and ankle injuries and should be available for selection, while Zimbabwean striker Alois Ngwerere will be subject to a late fitness test on his groin.

AmaZulu are also in search of their first win of the season, with the Durban side lying in 13th place after three rounds of competition. — Sapa