Polokwane out to bring AmaZulu back down to earth

Polokwane City are set to play host to an in-form AmaZulu FC side at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Monday's DStv Premiership encounter. 

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Rise and Shine have been inactive since they lost 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns at home on August 30 and they have lost their last two matches in the local top-flight. 

Polokwane are placed 14th on the DStv Premiership standings - three points behind sixth-placed Chippa United and will climb into the top eight with a win over AmaZulu.
 
Meanwhile, AmaZulu have hit form having secured a 3-2 win over Cape Town City at home on September 17 and it was their second consecutive victory in the league.

Usuthu are placed seventh spot on the DStv Premiership table - a point behind fourth-placed Moroka Swallows and a win over Polokwane will elevate AmaZulu into the top four.

TEAM NEWS 

Polokwane have no suspension concerns and the Limpopo-based side is yet to report any injuries coming into this encounter.

AmaZulu, on the other hand, will be without Mbongeni Gumede who is suspended and the club's new signing Taariq Fielies could make his debut against Polokwane.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Polokwane City head coach Lehlohonolo Seema

"The guys are still fighting, they are still playing well, you can't rush and start saying we need this and that. It is not that bad," Seema said.

"After a performance like this, they (players) just need support in order to work hard. We have to make sure that we give a lot of confidence to our players and make sure they are focused. 

"We want to thank the supporters who were behind us for the 90 minutes. We were playing against the champions (Sundowns) and we could hear them (supporters) singing behind us. We will get points in the next five games if we work hard."

 AmaZulu head coach Pablo Franco Martin

“We’re very far from the level I want, they were better than us, this is the reality. I’m honest, I think today they deserved more and with this," Franco Martin said.

"I don’t mean that our players didn’t deserve to win because they fought in the end and took their chances. But I think they are a better team than us right now. They are working with two gears in the same idea and you can’t see the difference. 

"They (Cape Town City) also have good players with quality on the field. When you are on the field next to them you feel it and we suffered a lot. But football is about that, to know how to suffer, to know how to overcome difficulties. But we’re still at the beginning of the process."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Polokwane City

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The veteran midfielder has become the heartbeat of the Polokwane midfield with his ability to carry the team forward and also track back, and help the defence.

Mashikinya will be hoping to stamp his authority in the middle of the park and put Rise and Shine in a good position to win the match. 

Oswin Appollis: The explosive attacker has quickly established himself as a key player at Polokwane after joining the team from Pretoria Callies prior to the start of the current season.

Appolis, who has two goals and one assist in the league this term, will be looking to use his blistering speed to unlock the AmaZulu defence. 

Cape Town City

Taariq Fielies: With Gumede suspended, the towering player might be handed a starting berth as he is a top central defender who is part of the Bafana Bafana fold.

Fielies will be eager to impress at the back and help the KwaZulu-Natal giants keep a much-needed clean sheet after conceding twice against Cape Town City.

Sere Junior Dion: The bulky centre forward marked his first appearance of the current campaign with an impressive brace which propelled AmaZulu to a victory over Cape Town City.

Dion is expected to be rewarded with a starting berth against Polokwane and he might be key to another Usuthu victory.