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Thwihli Thwahla seeking maiden win against Sundowns

football10 May 2024 14:00| © Backpage TXT
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Royal AM head coach John Maduka insists the team's destiny is in their own hands as they prepare to take on Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday..

Kick-off is at 5.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM:

Thwihli Thwahla are in danger of getting sucked into the relegation quagmire in the final three weeks of the season after struggling to get going in 2024.

Maduka's side have just three of their 11 matches this year and a 1-0 defeat to basement boys Cape Town Spurs in midweek extended their winless streak in the DSt Premiership to four games.

The KZN outfit find themselves just five points clear of the danger zone in 14th position, although they have a game in hand on Richards Bay (15th) and Moroka Swallows (13th), who are tied with them on 29 points.

Bafana ba Style were recently crowned champions and they're bidding to become the first club in the history of South African football to go through an entire campaign unbeaten.

The Brazilians have five fixtures remaining to achieve that historic feat, while they extended their undefeated streak in the league to an incredible 49 games with a 0-0 draw against Golden Arrows in midweek.

Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena wants them to finish the season as strongly as they started, with the double-header against Royal AM the first hurdle to overcome.

WHAT WAS SAID:

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena

"It was a very good performance from us and we were very offensive with chance after chance and maybe wasteful in front of goal and that is my biggest disappointment.

"I'm very proud of the character and spirit, the mentality of this group is very good.

"I want to see the team I have seen the whole season. The team that is playing well irrespective of the game, the team trying its best to win football matches."

Royal AM head coach John Maduka

"It's obvious, you will always worry if the team is not doing well as a coach. It is football. People thought maybe it will be a walkover against Spurs [after losing 1-0]. Who knows? Maybe we will go to Sundowns and do well.

"We are not thinking about relegation. I don't think this team can fight relegation. It is still in our hands. We still have four games ... Sundowns twice, Chippa United and then Moroka Swallows. That's why I say it is still in our hands."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS - Peter Shalulile could be given a chance in the run-in after Lucas Ribeiro was forced off through injury just 20 minutes into the clash with Arrows. The Namibian striker has had a poor season by his high standards after scoring just six goals in 17 appearances and started on the bench in the last two games since bagging a brace against TS Galaxy on April 29.

ROYAL AM - Sedwyn George had Thwihli Thwahla's best chance against the Urban Warriors when he pounced on a mistake in defence to race through on goal before being denied by a superb save from Neil Boshoff on 25 minutes. The 32-year-old striker has just two goals to his name this season and will be hoping to deny Ronwen Williams his 15th clean sheet of 2023-24.

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