Stellies, Highlands look for return to winning ways

Stellenbosch FC and Highlands Park will both be looking to bounce back from midweek Absa Premiership defeats when they meet at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 3:30pm CAT.

Stellenbosch suffered their fourth defeat of the season – but a first since mid-September – when they went down 2-0 away to AmaZulu on Wednesday, November 6. The Cape side has claimed five points from three home matches this season.

For Stellies, the loss brought an end to a three-game winning streak in the league and head coach Steve Barker is mindful of the fact that it won't get any easier for his team against a wounded Lions of the North.

“It is always a tough game, they also come off a loss in midweek," said Barker. "They’ve also had it tough, been to Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein and now Cape Town in a week.

“But they are a tough team and it is the team who bounce's back best on Saturday, they want to bounce back, we want to bounce back and that will be important.”

Highlands suffered a second successive league defeat when they were beaten 3-1 at Bloemfontein Celtic on Tuesday, November 5. The Lions of the North have taken five points from as many away matches so far in the 2019/20 campaign.

For the Tembisa-based club it has been a tough few weeks on the road, but Highlands boss Owen da Gama has chosen to see the positives in all of it.

"Yeah I mean it been a tough two weeks for us," said Da Gama.

"But no complaints from our side, this is how you learn. This is how you grow and become a better team, you've got to play these games, play under pressure.

"We are not a fly-by-night, and we don't pretend that we are the best team or we will be the best," he concluded.

STAR PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stellenbosch FC

Iqraam Rayners: Following a rocky start to life in South Africa's top-flight, last season's National First Division (now GladAfrica Championship) golden boot winner has scored three goals in his last four games. His form will come as a major boost for Stellies who will now be eager for a return to winning ways.

Rafiq de Goede: Having worked his way into the starting XI, de Goede stepped up to the occasion for Stellies in the last three games with powerful performances at the heart of defence. Against a Highlands side who are not afraid to rattle the back of the net, he will have to be on his toes if the hosts are the come away with all three points.

Highlands Park

Peter Shalulile: With seven goals in 10 league games this season, the Namibia international is the form player for the Lions of the North and in the hunt for the golden boot. He will be hoping to build on his scoring streak as the two most recent winners of the National First Division (now GladAfrica Championship) go head-to-head.

Mothobi Mvala: Like Shalulile, Mvala has been key to Highlands' rise over the last few seasons and the towering midfielder has established himself as a particularly important player to the club's cause. Good in disrupting the opposition and getting go-forward ball for his team, Mvala's threat in the final third shouldn't be undermined.