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Santos in hunt for league title
10/04/2008 15:34 - (SA)
Johannesburg - While all eyes will be on the Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs clash this weekend, it is the Santos versus Jomo Cosmos game that has more importance than the battle of the ailing giants.
Santos' run of seven games unbeaten this year put them in the running for the league title, while their opponents, conversely, are candidates for relegation.
Cosmos have drawn 14 games this season and have only found the back of the net 11 times, resulting in a paltry 20 points. Nevertheless, they remain optimistic.
"We're playing well despite the fact we're not scoring goals or conceding either.
But we hope to get results this time because the technical staff have been working on target shooting," Cosmos team manager, Andrew Rabutla, said on the club's website.
Despite Santos' good form, playmaker Thando Mngomeni believes the relegation candidates will provide a stern test.
'Relegation'
"Cosmos are always tough to face," said Mngomeni on Santos' website. "They may be battling at the bottom of the table, but they are the type of team that can turn it on when they want to. We'll have to be careful in our approach.
"A win is important for both teams. They want the points to move away from relegation and we need the points to strengthen our challenge for the title."
This clash kicks off on Friday night at 8pm. The venue is Athlone Stadium.
On Saturday Golden Arrows host Thanda Royal Zulu at the King Zwelithini Stadium. Arrows, in 6th place with 35 points, are fighting for a top eight finish while TRZ are four points above Cosmos and in dire need of points to avoid a relegation scrap with Ezenkosi.
Kick-off at 15:00.
An interesting duel takes place at the Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday night. Orlando Pirates host log leaders SuperSport United and the hosts, eight points behind SuperSport, still believe they have a shot at the league championship with six games to go.
Focusing on team
"Should we draw or lose on Saturday, the dream will be over over. In fact, the very slim chance that we have rests on the fact we still have to play both SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town and a draw against either team will spell the end of our dream," former Bucs midfielder Tebogo Moloi said.
SupeSport coach Gavin Hunt is not perturbed at all by what Pirates want as he insists on focusing on his team.
"I am not at all concerned about any other team, whether they think they are in contention for the league or not. My focus is on SuperSport and we have to get on with the job at hand."
Kick-off at 20:00.
Sundowns and Chiefs are far from being title contenders, in fact, they're both looking to finish in the top half of the Absa Premiership table. But their history and rivalry will, without a doubt, draw a capacity crowd.
The Brazilians recently ousted the Amakhosi from the Nedbank Cup and revenge is most certainly on their minds. The hosts will not want the Soweto giant to settle the score, especially not in front of their home crowd.
In Bloemfontein, the struggling Celtic welcome National First Division (NFD) bound Black Leopards. Both clubs are in dire straits after losing their coaches and a desperate dogfight is expected.
AmaZulu welcome Platinum Stars to their kraal and both have high hopes of reaching the top half. They're in 10th and 11th place on the log respectively.
Another top-flight clash takes place in Germiston. Moroka Swallows welcome title chasers Ajax Cape Town to their home with the vision of making it back into the top eight.
Just last Sunday Chiefs pushed them out of the top half and against Ajax, second on the log, it's difficult to see the Birds getting the better of a youthful, ambitious side.
This clash kicks off at 17:00 while the other Sunday matches start at 15:00.
- SAPA
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