Wits, Bucs kick off amended fixtures

Orlando Pirates fans look on during their sides last PSL game, a 2-1 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic in December. Pirates will play BidVest Wits in the first match of the second half of the season. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix

Orlando Pirates fans look on during their sides last PSL game, a 2-1 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic in December. Pirates will play BidVest Wits in the first match of the second half of the season. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix

Published Jan 17, 2017

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Durban - The second half of the Absa Premiership will start earlier and finish later as the PSL reorganises its schedule to make up for postponements brought about by the Africa Cup of Nations, the Olympic Games, and Mamelodi Sundowns’ run to the Champions League title.

An amended fixtures list was released on Monday, with Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates kicking off the second half on Friday, February 3 in a fixture was postponed from the first round. The action will end almost three weeks later than normal, in mid-June, with the Nedbank Cup final following a week later.

The changes afford the teams room to breathe and also allow coaches more time to work with new signings from the current window period, which closes at the end of the month. With clubs allowed to change their foreign players during the window, there has been more activity than usual.

Golden Arrows have dispensed with Kenyan winger Clifton Miheso and Colombian forward Mauricio Barrios. The latter has reportedly attracted the interest of First Division side Stellenbosch FC. Coach Clinton Larsen is assessing former Pirates striker, Malawian Chiukepo Msowoya, and Zimbabwean Knox Mutizwa of Wits. 

At Maritzburg United the only critical vacancy is for a left-back in an otherwise balanced squad, said chairman Farook Kadodia. New coach Roger de Sa was yet to finalise his assessment of the squad, after which they might release or loan out fringe players.

The Team of Choice have already parted with veteran winger Abia Nale. Defender Tumelo Mogapi and attacker Gregory Maasdorp, who have seen little action, could find themselves on the exit list.

Want-away utility player Philani Zulu would remained sidelined in the absence of offers from other clubs, said Kadodia. Belgian striker Andrea Fileccia is expected to return from Brussels next week where he had been undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury.

The Mercury

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