Polokwane target flying start against AmaZulu

Polokwane City will start their Betway Premiership campaign with a match against AmaZulu FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 8pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Rise and Shine have been inactive since they were narrowly defeated by Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 quarterfinals on 11 August - losing 1-0 in extra-time.

Polokwane are undefeated in their last five league matches having recorded four successive draws and one victory which came against TS Galaxy at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu were not involved in the MTN8 and they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Golden Arrows on 25 May in what was their last game of last season.

The defeat to Arrows ended Usuthu's three-match unbeaten run in the league having registered two consecutive draws and victory which came against Sekhukhune United.

TEAM NEWS

Polokwane have so far retained the services of their star attacker Oswin Appollis who is on the radar of Kaizer Chiefs and the team has no suspension concerns.

AmaZulu, on the other hand, also do not have any suspension worries and they have extended the contract of Riaan Hanamub who was tipped to join Chiefs.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Polokwane City head coach Phuti Mohafe

“The expectations are high...we set the bar very high last season. So this season, we can't afford to miss out on the top eight finish," Mohafe said.

"We should improve from last season and that means we aim to finish seventh, at least. Watch out for Polokwane City this season. In fact, we don’t see ourselves below No 8 on the table by the end of the season.

"Failing to remain in the top eight would mean we have failed as a team... we need to progress. We need to make sure we start the season well because it’s very important to gain momentum very early so that it will push us."

AmaZulu FC head coach Franco Pablo Martin

“We are expecting a challenging beginning of the season. Not only because we all know that in PSL, the games are really difficult and competitive," Martin said.

"But because of this extended pre-season. The biggest challenge we will have, especially for players after such a long period of time without playing official games, is to know how they will be prepared and how they will react when they need to face competition again.

“So, the idea now is to try to collect points from the very beginning, so we will play offensively, and we will try to go for victories from day one, so we can achieve great things this season.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oswin Appollis, Polokwane City: The speedy winger will be brimming with confidence after scoring twice for Bafana Bafana against South Sudan and he has what it takes to inspire Rise, and Shine to a win over AmaZulu.

Godspower Ighodaro, AmaZulu: The Mamelodi Sundowns loanee will be determined to hit the ground running at Usuthu by finding the back of the net against Polokwane and help his side collect maximum points.

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2014/15 Polokwane 2-2 AmaZulu Nyundu (pen), Horaeb (og); Mwape 2 (1 pen)

2014/15 AmaZulu 2-0 Polokwane G. Dlamini, Ntuli

2017/18 AmaZulu 2-3 Polokwane Manzini, Cele; Ravhuhali, Musona, Ramagalela

2017/18 Polokwane 0-0 AmaZulu

2018/19 AmaZulu 0-0 Polokwane

2018/19 Polokwane 3-2 AmaZulu Booi, Musona 2; Ntuli, Sithebe

2019/20 Polokwane1-0 AmaZulu Anas

2019/20 AmaZulu 1-0 Polokwane Ntuli

2023/24 Polokwane 0-0 AmaZulu