SuperSport welcome last-placed Dikwena

Vuyo Mere of Platinum Stars challenged by Bradley Grobler of Supersport United during the Absa Premiership match between Platinum Stars and Supersport United at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa on August 24, 2016 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Sep 11, 2017. 08:08

SuperSport United will welcome Absa Premiership basement dwellers Platinum Stars to the Lucas Moripe Stadium for a match on 12 September 2017, kick-off at 19h30.

SuperSport opened their league campaign with a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, but responded in fine style by defeating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in Soweto to quickly put themselves back on track.

Coach Eric Tinkler will want to see more consistency from his charges and will be especially focused on ensuring that Matsatsantsa turn their Atteridgeville venue into a fortress.

Stars have endured a disastrous start to the league season and they are the only team in the division yet to pick up a point from the first two rounds of matches. A 2-0 home loss at the hands of Maritzburg United was followed by a 3-1 away defeat to Cape Town City.

Dikwena’s losses have come against two in-form teams who are top of the log heading into this round of fixtures, but that is no excuse for shipping five goals in the space of 180 minutes.

In head-to-head stats, SuperSport and Stars have met in 28 league matches since 2003/04. The Tshwane team has claimed 12 wins compared to nine for their Rustenburg counterparts, while seven matches have been drawn. Matsatsantsa have claimed four wins and suffered six defeats in their 14 home league matches against Dikwena.

Stars claimed a league ‘double’ over United last season, winning 1-0 in both Rustenburg and Pretoria thanks to goals from Robert Ng’ambi and Bongi Ntuli respectively. Dikwena have won three of the last four league matches against Matsatsantsa.

SuperSport’s line-up from their 2-1 win over Chiefs on 23 August: Williams, Kekana, Gould, Daniels, Ritchie, Phala (Nhlapo 88’), Letsholonyane, Mokoena, Modiba, Wome (Brockie 46’), Grobler (Alexander 74’).

Stars’ line-up from their 3-1 loss to Cape Town City on 23 August: Mzimela, Mwedihanga, Zulu, Sithole, Mere, Ng'ambi, Matlakala, Nale, Kunene (Baloyi 66’), Mkhabela (De Jongh 87’), Mbatha.