Spurs targeting maximum points against Rise and Shine

Off the back of a morale-boosting victory against Richards Bay, Cape Town Spurs will go up against a wounded Polokwane City in their next clash in the DStv Premiership at the Athlone Stadium on Tuesday evening.

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

CURRENT FORM

The Urban Warriors faced four defeats in succession before grabbing a big 1-0 win against fellow relegation-threatened Richards Bay. Spurs had lost fixtures against Sekhukhune, Mamelodi Sundowns, Chippa United and Moroka Swallows.

They are still at the bottom of the league standings with 15 points, but they are now five points adrift from the playoff spot.

Polokwane City will hope to pick themselves back up after facing a heavy 5-0 defeat to Stellenbosch in the league. Prior to that disappointing result, the team played out a 2-2 draw with Cape Town City and a 1-1 stalemate with SuperSport United.

Rise and Shine are placed 12th on the log with a total of 30 points.

WHAT WAS SAID

Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp is happy with the win and says it will boost the team’s mood for the remaining games of the season.

“After not winning for five games in a row, you are very happy to have some excitement and I definitely will not dampen down the excitement,” he said.

“I think it’s very crucial in terms of the confidence level. Now the mood will be good going into the Polokwane City game.”

Not wanting to get ahead of themselves, Middendorp says that they can only wait and see how the remaining matches play out.

“We’ll do our best to try to be prepared to find the right decisions. There will be again some changes because of injuries and suspension but let’s wait and see.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Azola Jalakashe, Cape Town Spurs - The 20-year-old scored his first goal for the Urban Warriors in the match against Richards Bay as a substitute and the centre-forward will be hoping for a start to keep bringing his magic to the table.

Simon Ramabu, Polokwane City - The 21-year-old winger has three goals to his name in the league this season and will hope to add to his tally in this fixture as Rise and Shine aim to redeem themselves from humiliation.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

LAST 10 RESULTS (top flight only, Spurs formerly known as Ajax Cape Town)

Season Result Scorers

2013-14 Ajax 2-0 Polokwane Dolly, Paulse

2014-15 Polokwane 1-2 Ajax Mobara (og); Nkoana, Morris

2014-15 Ajax 1-1 Polokwane Morris; Jembula

2015-16 Ajax 2-1 Polokwane Paulse, Mobara; Maluleke

2015-16 Polokwane 2-3 Ajax Maluleke 2; E. Isaacs, Nxumalo 2

2016-17 Ajax 1-1 Polokwane Paulse; Mncwango (pen)

2016-17 Polokwane 1-1 Ajax Ramagalela; Margeman

2017-18 Ajax 2-0 Polokwane Nxumalo 2

2017-18 Polokwane 3-0 Ajax *Awarded

2023-24 Polokwane 3-1 Spurs Appollis 2, Mapfumo