Arrows hold title key

2008-05-12 14:04

Johannesburg - Golden Arrows could not have asked for two tougher fixtures to end their Absa Premiership campaign - and to top it all - they hold the key to the championship.

Arrows travel to Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on Wednesday night where they face leaders SuperSport United and then host second placed Ajax Cape Town at Umlazi's King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday, when they end their 30 match league programme.

Arrows realise they hold the key to the championship, but warned that they are not in the business of doing either title contender, United nor Ajax, any favours.

United head the standings with 51 points, followed by the Urban Warriors who have 50 points going into the last two matches of the season.

Said spokesperson Zwelethu Mzolo: "We are coming to Pretoria on Wednesday to win or at least get a point. We are determined to end the season in style by beating Ajax in our own backyard on Sunday."

While their last two matches look tough, Mzolo stated that Arrows 0-0 draw against relegation threatened Black Leopards in Thohoyandou, was not easy either.

'Easy game'

He said: "If you look at it nobody could have predicted we would finish the league playing the two teams fighting to win the league and in our third last game have to travel away to a side fighting for their Premier Soccer League lives.

"It was not an easy game against Leopards. The heat, the travelling and playing against a side fighting for their PSL survival made it a very difficult 90 minutes."

The Arrows spokesperson stressed they owed it to everyone to make sure both United and Ajax will fight for anything they get from Arrows.

Said Mzolo: "If these sides want to win the title, then they are going to have to fight for it and will have to beat us, which is not going to be an easy task. We are in good form and not about to hand out any gifts."

Arrows will be looking to their attacking midfielder Abia Nale and ace striker Vusumuzi Vilakazi to upset United's title hopes on Wednesday.

Said Mzolo: "Both Nale and Vilakazi are on top of their game and we expect both of them to trouble United." Arrows are still minus striker Norman Smith and their star midfielder Papi Zothwane who have been on the injury list for some time and are unlikely to feature until next season.

Kick-off is at 19:30.

Ajax's penultimate fixture is against neighbours Santos on Thursday night at the Athlone stadium (19:30).

Third placed Santos have 45 points and to pip United would need to win their two remaining matches and hope United lose both their last games.

The fixture was originally scheduled for Wednesday but moved 24 hours later due to the fact Ajax were involved in an African Confederation Cup match in Cameroon on Sunday.

Ajax fielded a reserve team and were beaten 5-0 by Mount Cameroon to lose their second round tie 6-5 on aggregate after winning the home leg 5-1.

- SAPA