Matchday 6 - preview
Thanda Royal Zulu FC - Bidvest Wits
DURBAN, November 1 (Absa Premier League) – Thanda Royal Zulu coach Roger Palmgren is confident his players can build on their spirited fight-back against Golden Arrows earlier this week when they host Bidvest Wits on Sunday.
The Amabhubesi pulled off an impressive turnabout against the in-form Abafana Bes’thende fighting from two goals down to draw 2-2, thanks to a brace from striker Bernard Parker.
That draw ended a sequence of three defeats and kept our team in ninth place in the Absa Premier League table ahead of the clash with Wits at the Mpumalanga Stadium.
Palmgren is now hoping the players can stick to his game plan as he plots the downfall of Roger de Sa’s team.
“It was a very strong fight back against Arrows,” he said. “But we had played a very good game until the 37th minute when they scored and the players had adapted to the tactics and game plan more or less.
“But our level dropped in the last few minutes of the first half and that proved costly.
“Looking forward to Wits, we never have special plans for teams, especially when we are a new group with a lot of new players. So we are more or less looking into our own tactics and giving ourselves confidence.”
The Swede is also showing no concern that almost all their goals this season have come from the free-scoring Parker – the captain has six goals to his credit – admitting instead that he had full belief in his other strikers.
“I’m happy that he’s scoring and I have a lot of confidence in the ability the other guys.
“They will start scoring sooner or later, so I’m not worried about that.”
On the injury front, Palmgren’s only concern is goalkeeper Aubrey Mathibe (knee), who faces a late fitness test.
Wits on the other hand have a fully fit squad at their disposal and coach de Sa will be keen to end a two-game losing streak and help build on their current third-place league position.
He said: “I think even though we’ve lost two games, we’ve still being playing pretty well and the performances have been good. So we’re still content with everything so far.
“We’ve created a lot of chances in the two games, so the goals will come as long as there are chances.
De Sa was also quite clear as to who the main danger-man will be.
He added: “We think it’s going to be a difficult trip. When you play against Parker and 10 others it’s not easy.
“I think they’ve got enough depth in the team to get it right. Obviously Parker is the form player, but there are others including (Nkosinathi) Nhleko, (Norman) Smith, (Peter) Ndlovu, (July) Mahlangu, (Katlego) Loke, (Felix) Obada, (Sibusiso) Hadebe, they’re all quality footballers.”