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Middendorp marks PSL return with bottom of the table clash

rugby24 November 2023 20:38| © Backpage TXT
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Ernst Middendorp © BackpagePix

With Ernst Middendorp back in South African football, the German mentor’s first assignment in the DStv Premiership will be to guide Cape Town Spurs to victory when they take on Royal AM at the DHL Stadium on Saturday evening.

Kick-off is at 5:45pm (SA, GMT+2)

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After being announced as the new Urban Warriors head coach earlier this month, Middendorp will be hoping to impart his survival knowledge onto a Spurs team that are void of confidence.

Known for guiding teams away from the relegation zone, Spurs are currently rock bottom in DStv Premiership and managed to bag an underwhelming three points in 11 matches played so far.

The Urban Warriors' only victory in the league came in the form of a 2-1 win against Orlando Pirates at the DHL Stadium on 1 November.

While it seemed that the club could yield positive results thereafter, the Mother City subsequently recorded two defeats on the trot.

Tasked to revive Spurs’ turbulent season, Middendorp mentioned that he will be looking to his experienced campaigners to help him steer the club into the right direction.

Much like Spurs, Royal AM have likewise struggled for form during the 23/24 league season.

Royal AM occupy 14th spot on the league table after recording just three wins from 11 games played so far.

As the away outfit, Thwihli Thwahla bagged one win in six matches on the road this season which came in a 3-2 win against Chippa United in August.

Also, the Mother City has not been a happy hunting ground for Thwihli Thwahla in recent times and they head into their tie against the Urban Warriors on the back of a 2-0 loss against Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium.

In addressing the club’s supporters during the international break, Royal AM president Shauwn ‘Ma’ Mkhize mentioned that while the season has been unpredictable, she remains confident that Thwihli Thwahla can finish in the top half of the log.

“Since the start of the new season, the team has been experiencing mixed fortunes in the field of play,” she said in a long statement.

As a matter of fact, it is safe to say, that this season has been the most unpredictable in terms of results by far.

“We remain hopeful that with your support on and off the field, we are going to see some improvements. Together with our technical team, we will continue to find a winning formula as we aim to cement our place in a decent top half of the DStv Premiership log standing.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Cape Town Spurs:

Keagan Buchanan: The technically sound midfielder has been one of Spurs’ best players in the last couple of games, as he begins to fit in alongside the likes of Morne Nel and Micheal Morton in the engine room. Buchanan’s teasing long balls could be a problem for Royal AM this weekend, while Spurs also boast a vast array of willing runners in attack.

Royal AM:

Menzi Masuku: Following the arrival of Middendorp, it’s expected that Spurs will head into the game with a solid defensive plan. Masuku’s ability to play between the lines could be crucial in this regard, while he possesses the skill to unlock defensives with passes and take-ons.

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