Leaders Baroka welcome champions Wits

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Oct 20, 2017. 10:09

Absa Premiership leaders Baroka FC will welcome champions Bidvest Wits for a match at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 22 October 2017, kick-off at 15h30.

Baroka extended their unbeaten run in the league this season to eight matches when they were held 1-1 at home by Golden Arrows on October 17. The Limpopo side claimed an early lead and looked on course to hand Abafana Bes’thende their first loss, but the visitors fought back to claim a share of the spoils.

Bakgaga have only won one of their four home matches thus far (1-0 over Free State Stars in September) and coach Kgoloko Thobejane will want to see his side be more ruthless in their fixtures in the Limpopo province.

Wits suffered a fourth loss from their opening seven league matches when they were beaten 1-0 at Bloemfontein Celtic on October 1. The Johannesburg side has managed just one victory this season and has shipped 11 goals in the process.

The Clever Boys can at least point to a victory over Orlando Pirates in their last home match back in September, but coach Gavin Hunt will hope that the international break has allowed his team to ‘reset’ and get back to the form which won them the league title last season.

In head-to-head stats, Baroka and Wits have met in just two previous league matches. Both of those encounters took place last season, with the Clever Boys claiming a league ‘double’ by winning 2-0 in Polokwane and 5-0 in Johannesburg.

Baroka’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with Arrows on October 18: Vries, Mothupa, Shaku, Mdatsane, Masenamela, Banda, Madubanya, Moeti (Kgaswane 68’), Matloga (Sidumo 82’), Motupa, Macha (Nguzana 60’).

Wits’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Celtic on October 1: Josephs, Khumalo, Damjanovic, Scott, Monare (Keene 81'), Gamal, Hlanti, Mhango (Claasen 71'), Phiri (Kodisang 71'), Frosler, Ntshangase.