Polokwane aim to halt Downs train

Football | Absa Premiership

 

Newly promoted Polokwane City welcome log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to the Peter Mokaba Stadium for an Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday evening, kick-off at 8:15pm.
Rise and Shine will be eager to cause a major upset when they host a rampant Sundowns outfit, who have yet to lose in the league this season.
Polokwane claimed their first draw of the campaign in their last league encounter against Bidvest Wits in midweek while the Brazilians claimed their fourth win of the campaign with an emphatic 7-1 win over AmaZulu.
Asked whether he feels the newly promoted club would sit back and defend against Sundowns, Brazilians’ coach Pitso Mosimane explained that he feels everyone this season have opted to play deep against the Chloorkop-based side and it is their duty, with the attacking players they possess to go on the attack.
“In my opinion everybody sits back, [Bidvest] Wits, [Bloemfontein] Celtic and Platinum Stars. Everybody will sit back, we are Sundowns, we have to attack be it home or away. With the attackers I have we have to attack,” said Mosimane.


The ‘Downs mentor added that he respects Polokwane City and that it will be difficult to break down the Limpopo-based outfit.
Mosimane concluded that City’s new coach Boebie Solomons knows the Brazilians style of play having sat on the bench as Clinton Larsen assistant in the Brazilians two games against Bloemfontein Celtic this season.
“I respect Polokwane City, they don’t lose easily. They have got a new coach [Solomons], the coach was there when we played Bloemfontein Celtic twice, so he knows us. They know the system,” concluded Mosimane.
Solomons jokingly explained that Sundowns scored all their goals in their last encounter against Usuthu, adding that if his team keep things tight and build from the back they stand a chance themselves of finding the back of the net on the weekend.
“I think Mamelodi Sundowns scored all their goals in the last game, so I don’t think there will be any goals. Hopefully we will be strong, tight and defend very well and if we organise very well and build from there, I think we stand a good chance of scoring,” said Solomons.
The former Siwelele assistant added that he is surprised Sundowns haven’t dominated on the continent with all the quality they have had at their disposal over the years.
“Sundowns are doing great, they have great players, I am surprised they haven’t dominated on the continent with the quality of players they have had over the years, hopefully against us, they won’t do so great,” he added.
The game will be the first official league meeting between Polokwane City and Bafana Ba’Style.