Troubled Polokwane out to ease woes with Chippa win

Polokwane City will tussle it out with Chippa United in Saturday afternoon's DStv Premiership encounter at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Kick-off is at 3:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Rise and Shine's woes continued as the Limpopo-based side stretched their losing run to three matches across all competitions when they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Lamontville Golden Arrows at home on 10 March.

Therefore, Polokwane occupy 12th spot on the DStv Premiership standings - two points behind eighth-placed Arrows and 10 points clear of the relegation zone, while also having a game in hand.

Meanwhile, Chippa bounced back to winning ways when they claimed a 2-1 win over Ravens at home in the Nedbank Cup on 16 March. Before that, Mamelodi Sundowns ended the Chilli Boys' four-match unbeaten run.

The Eastern Cape-based outfit occupy the 13th spot on the DStv Premiership standings - nine points above the relegation zone and they are only a point behind 12th-placed Polokwane.

TEAM NEWS

Polokwane have no suspension worries coming into this encounter and the team have welcomed back Oswin Appollis who was on national duty with Bafana Bafana.

Chippa, on the other hand, will be without the suspended Elmo Kambindu while Goodman Mosele has returned to the club after his trip to Algeria with Bafana.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe:

"Yes, it is becoming a worrying factor when we are playing at home because we are not consistent in terms of collecting points at home.

"When compared to the away form, I think our away record is now better than the home record. So, we just need to focus or be more focused when we are playing at home.

"Regarding the application of the players on the pitch I am positive, but with the results, yes, I am disappointed because we hope that if we don't get three points, then we should get one just to keep us afloat."

Chippa United co-coach Thabo September:

“We had 80-something minutes, we did believe that we were gonna score. But as the game went on, of course, we started having a bit of worry.

"We did worry, especially when we were not getting a goal. But we were creating chances. I think it was a competitive game.

"We expected that from them. It was a good game. I think we played well, especially in the second half when we were one man short. We showed a bit of maturity in how we played.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oswin Appollis, Polokwane: If there is a player who can end Rise and Shine's current three-match winless run, it's the 22-year-old who scored in the team's 2-1 win over Chippa in the first round last December.

Craig Martin, Chippa: The explosive winger has rediscovered his mojo having found the back of the net in two of his last three matches and he could be the player to propel the Chilli Boys to a win in Polokwane.

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2015/16 Polokwane 1-0 Chippa Mncwango

2016/17 Polokwane 1-0 Chippa Maluleke

2016/17 Chippa 0-0 Polokwane

2017/18 Chippa 0-1 Polokwane Ramagalela (pen)

2017/18 Polokwane 1-1 Chippa Booi; Mntambo

2018/19 Chippa 2-2 Polokwane R. Manzini, Mayambela; Nkili, Ramagalela

2018/19 Polokwane 1-3 Chippa Anas; R. Manzini, Malama, Malepe

2019/20 Chippa 0-0 Polokwane

2019/20 Polokwane 2-0 Chippa Phiri, Mashumba