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| Erwin Isaacs © Gallo Images |
Santos have proven to be tricky customers for SuperSport United in recent seasons and the Tshwane side face a stern test of their title credentials in Tuesday night’s Absa Premiership clash at the Athlone Stadium. (7:30pm kick off).
League title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns faced their own challenge in the Mother City on the weekend, and passed with flying colours as they beat Ajax Cape Town 1-0, putting the pressure firmly back on SuperSport.
The Cape side’s own title hopes have all but evaporated – after picking up a solitary point in their two outings following the league restart, Santos find themselves 11 points adrift of the log leaders and eight points behind Mamelodi Sundowns, whom they must also still play.
So while aiming for championship honours would be ambitious to say the least, Santos can certainly have a say in exactly where in Pretoria the title ends up.
In their most recent match against Platinum Stars, the People’s Team enjoyed a plethora of chances, but despite the likes of Phikolethu Spelman and Erwin Isaacs being in good nick in front of goal this season, they were unable to find the back of the net.
This area of their game will certainly need improvement against a SuperSport side boasting Bafana Bafana centre back Morgan Gould, as well as the experienced Cape born left back David Kannemeyer, and another player who will returning to his city of birth, goal keeper Emille Baron.
United’s other national team defender, Bongani Khumalo, will, however, miss the game due to suspension, with Thabo September most likely to be his replacement.
Skipper Mogogi Gabonamong says that while recent results have been poor, there remains cause for optimism in the Santos camp.
“We showed good promise in our last two games and if we can take that and improve on it against SuperSport we can get a result.
“Our opponents could have part of their focus on the title race and if they show any lapses in concentration we will be ready to take advantage.
“Of course this is a big game which could determine quite a few factors as the season reaches its end, but for us we must treat it as a normal home game, where we will be aiming for three points,” said the Santos skipper.
The Cape side have a clean bill of health ahead of this crunch encounter.
Khumalo is hoping that his team-mates can do the business against a team he concedes have had the upper hand over Matsatsantsa in recent times.
“We haven’t beaten Santos in two years now, although we did get a golden point last season to clinch the league title.
“But now would be a great time to break the record they have over us, but it won’t be easy, especially in Cape Town,” says Khumalo.
He admits that SuperSport are looking overt their shoulders at Sundowns’ increasing threat.
“Every point is vital and it was good to get the win over Free State Stars ahead of this game. It will help give us confidence against Santos – with a handful of matches left we have to look to win each game to keep the pressure on Sundowns.”
Gavin Hunt’s side could again be without Glen Salmon – the striker has travelled with the squad to Cape Town, but remains doubtful to play.
Hunt can at least take consolation from the fact that Salmon’s replacement against Stars, Dario Monteiro, was on the score-sheet, as was the ever-influential Daine Klate, who has 10 league goals to his credit and whose overall contribution to the team this season has been invaluable.
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