Polokwane take aim at league leaders

Kabelo Mahlasela of Polokwane City

Friday Aug 14, 2020. 17:00

Polokwane City will take aim at Absa Premiership leaders Kaizer Chiefs when the teams meet at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday 15 August 2020, kick-off at 15h30.

Polokwane missed out on a third straight win in the league when they were beaten 1-0 at Maritzburg United on March 6. Rise and Shine have claimed 16 points from 12 home matches in the 2019/20 campaign.

Chiefs resumed their league campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Bidvest Wits on August 12, a match which saw striker Samir Nurkovic net his 12th goal of the season. The Amakhosi have claimed 26 points from 11 games on the road this term.

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Polokwane have met in 13 league matches since 2013/14. The Amakhosi have claimed five wins compared to three for Rise and Shine, while five games have been drawn. The Limpopo side has recorded one win, four draws and one defeat in their six home matches in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at FNB Stadium in September 2019, Polokwane claimed a 1-0 away win thanks to a goal from veteran midfielder Jabu Maluleke. Rise and Shine were the first team to defeat the Amakhosi in the league in 2019/20.

Polokwane’s line-up from their 1-0 loss to Maritzburgon March 6: Chibwe (Chigova 37′), Semenya, Buthelezi, Nkili, Chembezi, Nene, Booi (Hlubi 46′) Phiri, Tlolane, Mashumba (Muyabe 78′), Maluleke.

Chiefs’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Wits on August 12: Akpeyi, Moleko (Parker 84’), Cardoso, Mathoho, Sasman (Ntiya-Ntiya 83’), Manyama, Katsande, Ngcobo (Blom 61’), Billiat, Castro (Zuma 56’), Nurkovic.