Arrows take aim at Brazilians
If Mamelodi Sundowns’ loss to Zimbabwean side Chicken Inn last week was a reminder that the Brazilians can be beaten, there’s little need to tell Lamontville Golden Arrows.
|||If Mamelodi Sundowns’ loss to Zimbabwean side Chicken Inn last week was a reminder that the Brazilians can be beaten, there’s little need to tell Lamontville Golden Arrows.
The Durban side, who visit Sundowns tomorrow, were the last team to beat them before they kicked off a 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which was ended in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg match.
It was in the fourth round of the Absa Premiership that Sundowns were humbled 2-1 at Chatsworth Stadium in September, when goals from Mabhuti Khenyeza and Ryan Chapman sandwiched Themba Zwane’s second-half strike.
Arrows’ fortunes since then have been like a roller-coaster ride. They flirted briefly with a top-five position before the resignation of coach Serame Letsoaka.
His replacement, Clinton Larsen, launched his Arrows career with consecutive victories before the roller-coaster dipped and Abafana Bes’thende suffered four consecutive losses, until last weekend’s 2-1 triumph at Polokwane City.
The intersection of Sundowns’ stumble and Arrows’ recovery could be timely. The league enters the final stretch where Sundowns will hope to consolidate their lead to wrap up the title, and Arrows will want to kick on to secure a top-eight finish.
The come-from-behind win at Polokwane was significant for Larsen in that his men withstood the pressure, and the attack came good for a change.
“There was lots of pressure during the game as we had gone four matches without picking up a result of any kind. Added to that pressure was the fact that we had not scored in our previous four games, so it was pleasing to have scored two goals,” said Larsen.
Sundowns missed Khama Billiat with a hamstring strain in Zimbabwe. The attacker is, however, expected to be fit to rejoin fellow forwards Keagan Dolly and Leonardo Castro.
To neutralise that threat, Larsen will require Gladwin Shitolo and Musa Bilankulu to be at their best in putting up a midfield defensive shield.
At the foot of the standings, Maritzburg United face a relatively easier challenge away to Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday.
Celtic have been on the slide, with one win in 12 games. It hasn’t been helped by the departures of key players such as Bilankulu and striker Frank Mhango, both of whom joined Arrows.
They haven’t scored in their last two outings, whereas Maritzburg have been full of goals. The Team of Choice have not failed to score in their last 10 games. Celtic’s poor form, coupled with Maritzburg coach Ernst Middendorp’s familiarity with most of the players he coached there two seasons ago, gives the travellers a fair chance of recording their second win of the season.
The Team of Choice also boasts recent Celtic recruits, defender Tumelo Mogapi and attacker Gregory Maasdorp.
In the First Division, local high fliers Royal Eagles face a toughie away to equally ambitious Milano United on Sunday. The Cape side are three points behind third-placed Eagles, which makes it a “six-pointer” for the victor.
Also on Sunday, mid-table AmaZulu host Santos in a must-win game if they wish to remain in the hunt for at least a play-off spot.
Usuthu are 10 points adrift of log leaders Baroka, with 11 games to go. - The Mercury