WeeklySA_AdminUPSCALE: Facing Hungry Lions, the Mpumalanga side can fancy their chances only with a formidable performance in the middle of the park…
By Masoja Cele
Casric Stars will be hoping to continue with their relentless form when they tackle Hungry Lions in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at King Solomon Stadium, KwaMhlanga, on Sunday.
The Stars, together with Highbury and University of Pretoria, are the only three teams which have not lost a match in the championship this season.
After playing six games, the Mpumalanga side drew only twice against AmaTuks and Baroka FC. For their efforts, Stars trail log leaders Milford FC with one point after accumulating 14 points.
Owner-coach Bucs Mthombeni’s team head into the proceedings high on confidence. A win could improve the Mpumalanga outfit’s chances to reclaim pole position.
During their last campaign, Stars qualified for the PSL promotional play-offs. However, Mthombeni’s team could only finish second position behind eventual winners Orbit College. This highlighted the need for Stars to vastly improve work-rate in order to realise their Premier League dreams.
Their last match’s home result before the FIFA break was not favourable to their supporters – a one-all draw against Tuks. But, in football, you cannot win or lose them all. Stars’ followers will be excited to witness the likes of forwards Diego Appollis, Lelethu Skelem and Decide Chauke performing to their best ability to help lift the team.
In midfield, Stars’ fortunes lie squarely on the shoulders of Thuso Mogale and attacking midfielder Zebulon Mtshweni to unlock the visiting team. Stars would be naive to take this encounter lightly, even with a credible performance.
In dire need of the three points, the Northern Cape ensemble come into this encounter eyeing to halt Casric dead on their tracks. Hungry Lions are on a strong run of their own and will be looking to continue their winning ways on Sunday.
“Ditau di a Rora” could prove too hot to handle at KwaMhlanga. Lions’ gaffer, Henry Basie, will have to turn his side’s fortunes around, if he were to nurse any hopes of challenging for promotion to the Premier League.
Should “Ditau di a Rora” beat Stars, then they will find themselves in the Top Five of the standings. Presently, they’re sitting in ninth position with six points behind the Mpumalanga side.
Basie will depend on the experience of former Ajax Cape Town midfield grafter Ndiviwe Mdabuka and long-serving servant Ronaldo Van Neel to unsettle Casric in the belly. It’s in the defence where Ditau will have to be more cautious as, left unchecked, the Stars striking trio of Skelem, Chauke and Appollis can cause havoc on their day.
Lions have also boosted their line-up with the signing of former TS Galaxy goalkeeper Wensten van der Linde. The former Rockets goal minder’s experience could be vital for the Northern Cape side. Other new arrivals at Lions include the likes of Nkululeko Dladla. Ultimately, the battle will be won by the team which creates most chances in the middle of the park.
