Casric look to pull Maritzburg down to MFC

Casric Stars will be keen to end their PSL Promotion/Relegation playoffs campaign with a win over Maritzburg United at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

FORM

The Believers succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town Spurs away on Wednesday and the defeat extended their winless run to six matches across all competitions.

The Mpumalanga side is placed third on the playoffs log standings and their hopes of securing promotion to the PSL were shattered after losing to Spurs. Casric will be campaigning in the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season.

Meanwhile, Maritzburg also suffered a 1-0 loss to Spurs away on 3 June and the defeat ended the KwaZulu-Natal side's four-match unbeaten run across all competitions.

The Team of Choice are placed second on the playoffs log standings and Maritzburg will be relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship if they fail to secure a win over Casric, with Spurs gaining promotion to the PSL.

TEAM NEWS

Veteran goalkeeper Ludwe Mpakumpaku, who missed Casric's 2-0 defeat to Maritzburg on 31 May due to personal reasons, will be available for selection after making his return to action in midweek.

Maritzburg, on the other hand, will once again be without experienced defender Kgotso Moleko who is nursing a long-term injury. His teammate Karim Kimvuidi is expected to start after featuring as a substitute against Spurs.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Casric Stars head coach Bucs Mthombeni

“I am a very spiritual person, so apologies to our supporters. I know they deserve something," Mthombeni said.

"Someone was giving the stats that if we came here and we won, it was going to boost us. But as a Christian, it only takes a man to apologise.

"Let’s support the team again next season. We will build from these games for next season. We have gained a lot of experience," he added.

“In the playoffs, you can’t be allowed to drop points in your first game. If you get one point or three out of your first game, it boosts your morale."

Matritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids

“We didn’t start the match [against Cape Town Spurs] the way we were supposed to," Davids said.

"We knew the conditions, we knew it was going to be tough. We knew we had to win 50-50 balls, we knew had to win the duels.

"We know we had to stop crosses and conceded from a cross, a fumble and then an open goal. You can’t start the way we did and then expect to win, especially in Cape Town," he added.

“But I don’t want us to give up, we’re going to fight. We’re gonna get the three points against Casric and then we get the three points in the next and we’ll survive.”

Head-to-Head stats

Casric and Maritzburg will meet for the second time across all competitions.

Their first-ever competitive meeting ended in a 2-0 win in favour of Maritzburg in Pietermaritzburg on 31 May.