Matchday 22 - Preview
Thanda Royal Zulu - Bay United
DURBAN, February 28 (Absa Premier League) – Thanda Royal Zulu and Bay United meet in a relegation six pointer on Sunday, with both sides knowing all too well that they need to start improving their Absa Premier League form immediately or face the consequences.
Umlilo are rock bottom on the table with 20 points after 23 games, while the Amabhubesi are only three points and three places better off having played two games less, but with Maritzburg United and Bloemfontein Celtic also in the mix, there is not much room for further error.
And Thanda assistant coach Johan Eriksson knows the stakes will be high at the Mpumalanga Stadium in what he describes as our “most important” game of the season against the unpredictable Bay.
“I think we realise how important this match is,” he said. “It’s pretty much the most important match of the season for us. So we’re really going to be on our toes, be motivated and be extremely focussed.”
“Bay beat Sundowns 2-0 (a few weeks back) and looked like they could have won 4-0. Then they play Ajax (Cape Town) losing 4-1 and didn’t have a single shot on target for 90 minutes. It’s hard to know what to expect from them. In fact, most teams at the bottom end of the log are on a good day, a very good team and on a not so good day, they can suffer.”
Thanda also come into the game on the back of back of a hammering after they were beaten 6-2 by Bidvest Wits, while Roger Palmgren’s team were thumped 6-1 a month ago by Celtic.
“We know what the cause was and have tried to rectify it this week at training,” added Eriksson on their latest loss. “I think we’ve got a good idea on what it is. So hopefully we can bounce back.
“Obviously we don’t like to lose by six goals – it’s not nice. The previous time we were able to bounce back when we lost 6-1 to Celtic we went on to beat Supersport 3-1. So in some ways it can work to our advantage as well.”
Defender Tonic Chabalala is suspended for the home team, while Joseph Kibe is still injured.
Bay coach Khabo Zondo meanwhile will welcome back Jermaine Christian from his ban, with Patrick Mayo also available after his recent injury troubles, but Luntu Mazana is still absent.
Zondo said: “It’s not over yet. We still have seven league games to play. I know, our players know that we’ve got to make things happen – and we will.
“I want us to go to Thanda and to play properly and to fight for the three points. We are still struggling on and we are going to keep on fighting.”