Royal AM will lock horns with a confident Stellenbosch FC side in a DStv Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
CURRENT FORM
Thwihli Thwahla remain winless this season having succumbed to a 4-2 defeat to Orlando Pirates away on 8 August and they are now winless in their last eight competitive games.
Royal find themselves placed 14th on the DStv Premiership standings with one point from two matches and they will be targeting nothing but a victory when they square off with Stellies.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch bounced back to winning ways when they defeated SuperSport United 1-0 away in an MTN8 clash on 13 August having lost to Polokwane City before facing Matsatsatsa.
Stellies are currency placed 11th on the DStv Premiership standings with three points from two matches and they will be confident of making it two wins in a row when they face Royal.
Readying up for some Friday night football ✨
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) August 15, 2023
🏆 #DStvPrem
🗓️ Fri, 18 AUG
🆚 @RAMFC_sa
🏟️ Harry Gwala Stadium
🕒 19H30
📺 Broadcast, SS PSL or stream the match on Showmax!
#StellenboschFC 🍇 pic.twitter.com/b0EMmvRs65
TEAM NEWS
There are no suspension concerns in either squad and they are yet to report injuries ahead of this encounter.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Royal AM head coach John Maduka
“We came back stronger in the second half [against Pirates]…. even defensively, we were very organised. We made so many errors in the first half that you won’t survive,” Maduka said.
“After the second goal, time was not on our side, but we were still pushing forward and we knew that when we did that we would be open on our side.
"And they managed to get the fourth goal. But we made things difficult for ourselves.”
Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker
“The result makes the trip to [Polokwane to face SuperSport] worthwhile, had we not got the result, it would have been tough,” Barker said.
“Project Polokwane would have been a disaster but I’m very pleased and credit must go to the players for the effort they put in and their tactical awareness.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Royal AM
Mfundo Thikazi: The promising winger has become a regular for coach John Maduka's side this term and he will carry the team's hopes of defeating Stellies.
Thikazi's ability to create and score goals will make him a threat to the Stellenbosch defence and the left-footed player will be eager to open his scoring account for this season.
Stellenbosch FC
Andre de Jong: The New Zealand international was the hero against SuperSport as he scored the winning goal which earned Stellies a spot in the MTN8 semifinals.
De Jong will be oozing with confidence when he faces a Royal defence that conceded four goals against Pirates and he will be keen to inspire Stellies to another win.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2021/22 Royal 1-0 Stellenbosch Potsane
2021/22 Stellenbosch 2-2 Royal Moseamedi 2; Machupu, Potsane
2022/23 Stellenbosch 3-1 Royal Van Wyk, Nascimento (OG), Andries; De Jong
2022/23 Royal 3-1 Stellenbosch Pelembe, Dube, Mogaila; Mendieta
LEAGUE RECORD (since 2021/22)
Home
P W D L GF GA
Royal 2 2 0 0 4 1
Stellenbosch 2 1 1 0 5 3
Away
P W D L GF GA
Royal 2 0 1 1 3 5
Stellenbosch 2 0 0 2 1 4
Total
P W D L GF GA
Royal 4 2 1 1 7 6
Stellenbosch 4 1 1 2 6 7