WeeklySA_AdminSurvival: Mouthwatering Motsepe Foundation championship clash
By Masoja Cele
Inconsistent Tshwane ensemble Pretoria Callies will on Sunday engage the Northern Cape roaring Hungry Lions in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at TUT Stadium, Pretoria. Kick-off 15:00.
A series of losses have seen Callies dropped below half of the table. AmaRoma will be hoping to put the 2023/24 season firmly behind them but not without a home victory. The Romans league form has seen them drop vital points that would have elevated them to a better position on the log. With matches come so thick and fast, after 25 rounds Callies are just 8 points above the drop zone.
In midweek they played and thumped title contenders Orbit College 3-0 away giving themselves a huge moral boost for the match against Lions. The Atteridgeville based side are 11th on the log, still closer to the relegation. A victory over Lions will push them further towards the top half of the table.
AmaRoma performance collapsed after the departure of talisman Oswan Appollis to Polokwane City early in the campaign. Appollis, who is now highly on the wanted list of DStv Premier side Kaizer Chiefs was the supreme performer in the colours of Callies. His partnership upfront with that of former Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker Sphelele Mthembu was devastating.
Nevertheless coach Bushy Moloi could still field a decent strike force that includes Sifiso Luthuli, Pule Motsetse and Nyakala Raphadu. In defence the Tshwane outfit will rest their trust on the defensive skill of Nicholas Motloung and Riyaaz Ismail in central defence meanwhile Tebogo Lekaba and Keorapetse Sebone will manned the right-back and left-back respectively.
The roaring Lions will be hoping to produce a thrilling performance against the Romans.On Tuesday, the Northern Cape side played to an inspiring 2-2 draw away at the rampart log leaders Magesi. Ditau, as Lions are dubbed in the game are buoyed after grabbing the points away at Magesi. The Postmasburg based team led by coach Henry Bassie are a difficult side to beat when they are on form. Bassie, who is the son of the chairman Stefaans Bassie has done great with the limited talent at his disposal. They are not a star-studded team but consists of dedicated and disciplined group of players.
Its players like Pitso Tlotlego, George Valtyn and Katlego Cwinyane who regulalry torment the opposition defence with their rigorous style of attack. Ditau’s defence that is marshalled by the gangly defender Kamogelo Mogotlane ably backed up by Morena Monaheng and Jackson Dondolo have conceded lesser goals than the hosts. With their midweek impressive results at Magesi one would bet his last dollar that Ditau will become victorious on Sunday. However, it will be foolish for Lions to write their opponents off.
In another Motsepe Foundation Championship fixture on Sunday, Orbit College FC will host NB La Masia at Olympic Stadium, Rustenburg. Kick-off 15:00.
