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SuperSport United, Babina Noko continue race for CAF spot

football06 May 2024 14:29| © Backpage TXT
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Kegan Johannes and Elias Mokwana © Gallo Images

With SuperSport United and Sekhukhune United vying for a CAF spot at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, the two sides will meet in a keenly anticipated DStv Premiership clash at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Tuesday night.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Sitting in sixth position on the table, SuperSport United are currently eight points behind Orlando Pirates who occupy the CAF Confederations Cup spot in third.

Matsatsantsa go into their next match on the back of a 1-0 win against Royal AM where Bradley Grobler’s 87th-minute effort separated the two sides at the Harry Gwala Stadium last week.

The win saw SuperSport’s nine-match winless streak in the league come to an end, as Gavin Hunt’s side picked up three losses and six defeats along the way.

As for Sekhukhune, Lehlohonolo Seema’s side recorded just one win in their last six matches in the DStv Premiership, jotting down four draws and one defeat during this period.

Babina Noko go into their next league assignment on the back of a 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy and are now six points adrift of a CAF Confederations spot with four games left to play.

Also, Sekhukhune claimed a 2-1 win against SuperSport in the last fixture between the two sides, as goals by Elias Mokwana and Chibuike Ohizu was enough for the Limpopo side to bag maximum points at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in November last year.

WHAT WAS SAID…

“You may see him being frustrated and fuming during matches, but he’s a good human being and a simple coach,” SSU star Siphesihle Ndlovu said in praise of Hunt who recently mourned the death of his father.

“He doesn’t like to complicate things in a player, he only wants the best from a player. He gives a simple instruction and you as a player have to do that on the field.

“Also one has to make sure that you work extra hard at training and during matches, then you will be okay with coach Gavin.”

“It’s not that he has done something that he doesn’t know that he has done it. So there is no bad blood, we are okay. He was looking at maybe staying on after coming that close to scoring or getting an assist,” Sekhukhune coach Lehlohonolo Seema said of his decision to substitute midfielder Jamie Webber at halftime for two games running.

“He was still eager to go but we had to react because the opponent was giving us problems. So there’s nothing there, it’s okay.

“It’s also showing the character, the kind of player he is."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

SuperSport United: Bradley Grobler – As SuperSport’s top scorer in the league with nine goals to his name so far, Grobler will no doubt be eager to increase his tally this week after getting his name on the scoresheet last time out.

Sekhukhune United: Kamohelo Mokotjo – The former Premier League midfielder was used sparingly throughout the 2023/24 campaign, however, his experience often shone through during high profile encounters.

While games are often decided in midfield, Mokotjo’s experience will be one of the biggest threats to Matsastantsa given his ability to dictate matters in the middle of the park.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Last five league results:

2021/22 SuperSport United 0-1 Sekhukhune United

2021/22 Sekhukhune United 0-0 SuperSport United

2022/23 SuperSport United 3-1 Sekhukhune United

2022/23 Sekhukhune United 1-0 SuperSport United

2023/24 Sekhukhune United 2-1 SuperSport United

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