Matchday 13 - preview
Thanda Royal Zulu FC - Moroka Swallows
DURBAN, December 16 (Absa Premier League) – Thanda Royal Zulu head into their Absa Premier League game against Moroka Swallows on Wednesday with suspensions and injuries causing coach Roger Palmgren plenty of concern in the build-up.
Striker Peter Ndlovu is definitely out of the game at the Mpumalanga Stadium with an ankle injury, while fellow frontman Bernard Parker is a major doubt after picking up a knock to his knee against Free State Stars on Sunday.
Add the suspensions of key midfielders July Mahlangu and Sibusiso Hadebe as well as defender Musa Nyatama to the absentee list and the Amabhubesi face a struggle to overcome the high-flying Birds.
Our boys, who threw away a two goal lead against Stars at the weekend before slipping to a 3-2 loss, have now dropped to a worrying 12th place on the log and assistant Johan Eriksson is hoping that wins in their last two games of the year can lift them into the top half of the table.
He said: “The league is tight and we are hoping to make up ground in the coming games. We don’t enjoy our current position on the log. We feel that we have a lot more to give, so we definitely need to pick up some points.
“With the situation as it is a at the moment if you can put together two consecutive wins and then all of a sudden you’re in the top-eight. It’s a tight competitive league.”
Reflecting on the defeat in Sunday’s game, the Swede continued: “I think the referee was fairly influential in the game, rather unfortunately. He single-handedly managed to change the whole game around.
“It was probably one of our best performances so far and I said the referee managed to interfere to our disadvantage. It’s just very disappointing when you do turn up with one of your best performances of the season.”
Eriksson also believes that our boys do have what it takes to bounce back in Hammarsdale on Wednesday.
He added: “As a human being, I don’t think anybody enjoys losing, especially in the manner in which we lost yesterday, which was very frustrating.
“I think we’re just happy that we have a game Wednesday and don’t have to wait a whole week to get our frustration out.
“On paper I think we should be able to match Swallows, but then again you never know. So it does depend on the form of the day. I definitely think we are motivated enough and have enough skill to match them.”
Swallows assistant Zeca Marques, who has his fair share of injuries in defender Vinicius Da Silva (knee) and midfielder Siphesihle Ngobese (hip), is quietly confident in his players.
He said: “Any trip down to Durban is always quite difficult and Thanda this week will be no different. I know Thanda have been doing well as well, they’ve had some great results this season.
“So all we’re going to aim for is to try and put our performances in the last few games together.
“Hopefully with another good performance and some luck, we can come out of Durban with another three points, but we know its going to be a tough one.”