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Swallows looking to swoop in on Rockets

football24 April 2024 13:00
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Musa Nyatama @ Gallo images

Moroka Swallows coach Musa Nyatama insists they will be targeting maximum points against surprise package TS Galaxy at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Friday, 26 April.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Current form:

The Dube Birds have found the going tough in the DStv Premiership since the end of November, winning just one of their last 14 matches.

Financial difficulties saw them forfeit their last two games of 2023 against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows, while Steve Komphela stepped down as head coach by mutual consent during the mid-season break.

Nyatama took over the reins again for the second half of the campaign, but has picked up just one win from his opening eight matches at the helm.

Swallows can take confidence from their 2-2 draw with the Brazilians most recently, which took them six points clear of the danger zone in 14th place and Nyatama declared that avoiding relegation is the priority, not the top eight.

The Rockets have emerged as potential contenders for a top-two finish after an impressive start to 2024 as they collected 13 points out of a possible 21.

Sead Ramovic's side went unbeaten in four outings before they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to high-flying Stellenbosch at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

Galaxy are nine points behind the Maroons (second) and six adrift of Orlando Pirates (third) in sixth position, although they have two games in hand on their rivals in the top half of the table.

Ramovic bemoaned the standard of refereeing in South Africa after poor officiating from the man in the middle cost his team against Stellies.

What was said:

TS Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic

"We are trying to improve and win because it is our bread, you then get disappointed when you see that referees don't get improvement.

"I would like to see the referees get help by being professional. If we want referees to be improved, they have to get things better like education and to be professional.

"Then the league will be better because we need good referees and poor referees kill the game."

Moroka Swallows coach Musa Nyatama

"We are taking it one game at a time. For now, our goal is to survive and we are not worried about being in the top eight. We are focused on saving the status of the [club].

"We usually plan that we need at least 10 points per five games. I am happy because we've managed to collect five points from three matches and we still have two games, against TS Galaxy and Chippa, from this block. We will be gunning for six points there."

Players to watch:

TS Galaxy - Samir Nurkovic could be recalled to the starting lineup after starting on the bench against Stellenbosch and only getting 23 minutes on the pitch. The Serbian striker scored in back-to-back games against AmaZulu and Royal AM recently and could still challenge for the Golden Boot as he trails joint-top scorers Tshegofatso Mabasa and Lucas Ribeiro (11) by four goals.

Moroka Swallows - Gabadinho Mhango came to the Birds' rescue when he scored what some deemed a controversial equaliser against Sundowns six minutes from time. The Malawian striker was in an offside position when he intercepted Divine Lunga's poor header back to Ronwen Williams, having gambled that the defender might try to play the ball back to his goalkeeper and it paid off.

Head-to-Head: (Last Five DStv Premiership Meetings)

Matches - 5

Galaxy wins - 2

Swallows wins - 1

Draws - 2

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