Maritzburg desperate for three points against Stellenbosch

Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids has called on his players to stand up and be counted in the fight for DStv Premiership survival as they prepare for the visit of Stellenbosch to the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

The Team of Choice have just two games to retain their top-flight status and they head into the penultimate round of the season three points adrift of safety at the foot of the table with a vastly inferior goal difference to Chippa United (15th) and Marumo Gallants (14th).

Davids's side dropped two precious points last week when they twice squandered the lead against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa to be held to a 2-2 draw in Pietermaritzburg, which extended their winless run to four matches.

Davids acknowledges they have been guilty of conceding far too many soft goals this term but insists Maritzburg will keep fighting until the bitter end as they look to pull off the great escape.

"To go twice ahead and not being able to keep it, we have the same way of conceding goals - really, really soft," he said. "We've been having these moments a lot, we're trying to fix it and work on it but we won't give up, we'll keep pushing. There's still two games to play and we'll push up until the end.

"When you concede a [late] goal like that, it's really demoralising but we have to stand up, we have to fight. We can't go into the next game with this disappointment, we have to lift our heads up and fight again and push until we get the three points. We know we need what we need in the last games and that's what we're going to push for."

The Maroons will refocus their efforts on the league after being eliminated from the Nedbank Cup at the semifinal stages on penalties by Sekhukhune United on Sunday.

Stellies were flirting with relegation earlier in the campaign after going nine games without a win but they've turned things around in the new year and can finish as high as fifth in the table.

A goalless draw with CAF Champions League hopefuls SuperSport United last Tuesday took them a point above Babina Noko into sixth place and they trail Cape Town City (5th) by two after going unbeaten in their last three outings.

Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker expressed his disappointment to exit the cup competition in the manner they did but believes the future is looking bright at the Danie Craven Stadium after his young team did themselves proud against their league rivals last weekend.

"Disappointed but that the same time we also have to hold our heads up high - chest out, shoulders back - we've still got two league games that we have to complete. We need to pick ourselves up and be ready for those two matches," Barker declared.

"This crop of players can take us to greater heights next season. They can take us even further than we have gone in this (Nedbank Cup) competition."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Maritzburg United

Karim Kimvuidi: The 21-year-old attacking midfielder from the DR Congo caught the eye against Gallants and causing them all sorts of problems with his direct runs. Davids will be looking for more of the same from Kimvuidi for the visit of Stellies as he goes in search of his first goal for the club when they need it most.

Mogamad De Goede: The 30-year-old centre-back will be targeting an improved performance after he was caught ball-watching for Gallants' last-ditch equaliser. De Goede was also guilty of not clearing the danger when Katlego Otladisa lifted the ball into the box earlier in the second half, which allowed Ranga Chivaviro to pounce from close range.

Stellenbosch

Iqraam Rayners: The 27-year-old striker was instrumental in Stellies' deep Nedbank Cup run, scoring six goals in just four games and he came close to making it five when he fired into the side-netting from an angle on the right in the second half following good work from Devon Titus and Junior Mendieta to set him up. Rayners is just one goal shy of reaching double figures for the season after bagging a brace in each of his last two outings.

Junior Mendieta: The 29-year-old Argentine winger has been the creative spark in the team this term and was a whisker away from breaking the deadlock against Sekhukhune on Sunday when his header struck the left post in the first half. Mendieta then played in Titus with an acrobatic overhead-kick, although the winger was also denied by the frame of the goal.