Sekhukhune look to upset the DStv Premiership champions Sundowns

Sekhukhune United will host Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership at Ellis Park on Tuesday evening, with the Chloorkop giants making their first league appearance after clinching the 2021/22 crown.

Kick-off is at 5:30 CAT

The hosts face a tough ask in welcoming the champions this week given the form card of both teams. While Downs could be high on confidence and spirits, Sekhukhune’s results of late do not paint a pretty picture.

Sekhukhune are winless in their last seven DStv Premiership encounters, recording four losses and three stalemates during this time. Goals have also been hard to come by for the club as they have failed to find the back of the net in their last three games.However, Sekhukhune are still within reach of the lucrative top-eight spot on the log as they currently occupy the 10th position in the league. With four games left in the DStv Premiership, Sekhukhune could well look to close the four-point gap between them and SuperSport United in eighth.

Speaking ahead of the tie, defender Edwin Gyimah mentioned that discipline will be the key factor in their match against Downs.

"It's a big team and we are hoping for the best," Gyimah said.

“As a team we haven’t had a good run recently and I think with our previous performance against Golden Arrows, that’s a boost for the team.

"The guys are very motivated, there’s no pressure in camp, we believe in ourselves and we know what we can do.

"We have to be disciplined, Sundowns are always Sundowns, they won the league already but on the field already, they are Sundowns.”

For the champions, they will be hoping to capitalise on their championship-winning confidence booster, given that their form of late has not been to the standard they are accustomed to. It has been a mixed bag of results in all competitions for Masandawana as they have recorded just two wins in their last five matches.

Downs featured in the Nedbank Cup semifinals against Royal AM on Sunday and managed to come away with a 2-1 victory at the Chatsworth Stadium.

After the encounter, Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena lauded his side and described the game as their ‘best performance’ this season from a tactical point of view.

“It looked like everything was set for Royal AM to win today," Mokwena said after their recent Nedbank Cup tie.

"The only people that wanted to stop that from happening were the Sundowns’ players.

"So kudos to them and congratulations for showing a big fight, and I think tactically it was probably the best performance from the team this season."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sekhukhune United:

Tshediso Patjie: The attacker has been one of the club’s best players this season and has been mixing it up among some of the top creators in the league. Patjie has five assists to his name this season, with players such as Khama Billiat, Themba Zwane and Lyle Lakay being some of the names just ahead of him on the list.

Chibuike Ohizo: The Nigerian striker is currently Sekhukhune United’s top scorer this season, scoring seven times in 18 league games. While he might be enduring a goal drought in recent games, Ohizo remains the first-choice man up front for the club.

Mamelodi Sundowns:

Peter Shalulile: The Namibian has been relentless in front of goal this season as he continues to raise the bar for strikers in the 21/22 campaign. With 21 league goals to his name, Sekhukhune would have to keep a close eye on the lanky forward.

Lyle Lakay: Much like that of Shalulile, Lakay has likewise found his name high up on the goal contributions lists. The former Cape Town City star has six assists in the DStv Premiership so far and will hope to catch up to Billiat who leads the race (8).