How Fani Madida must wish his team can replicate the form they did when he first took over at Moroka Swallows.
Madida and his struggling Birds host Amakhosi tomorrow night in a literal six-pointer that pits top versus bottom at Dobsonville Stadium.
In his first match in charge of Swallows, Madida took on the side he served with distinction as a player and succeeded where no club had hitherto done – becoming the first team to get a point off Chiefs.
Another draw similar to that one they achieved via a Lucky Baloyi goal will be mighty precious for Swallows as they look to steer clear of the relegation zone where they are a mere five points better than bottom-placed AmaZulu.
But the Birds are struggling to take flight and you are likely to find any takers for a bet on a home victory tomorrow, Chiefs’ poor form lately notwithstanding.
When they registered their first win of the year with that 2-1 defeat of Free State Stars last Wednesday, hope sprang eternal among the Dube Birds faithful. And with fellow relegation-haunted side Black Aces providing the next opposition, many anticipated a further three points to be added to their kitty.
But Swallows came unstuck out in Mbombela at the weekend to be mired in 15th spot in the 16-team league.
They host a Chiefs side who are finding scoring very difficult lately, Amakhosi go into tomorrow night’s clash on the back of two successive defeats – to Maritzburg United in the league and Raja Casa-blanca in the Caf Champions League.
Having held Chiefs when they were at their scintillating best early in the season, Madida and his troops should fancy their chances of putting one over a wobbly Amakhosi.
But to do that, the likes of Lerato Chabangu and Vuyisile Wana will need to bring along their scoring boots.
Chiefs will not want their once seemingly unassailable lead at the top to dwindle any further than the eight points it has been reduced to.
Stuart Baxter is sure to have a plan to ensure his team find the goals that will see them grab maximum points from this clash.
Failure to do so and Pitso Mosimane’s Mamelodi Sundowns will gladly edge much closer to pulling another snatch-and-grab like they did last season when they came from behind to win the championship from underneath Chiefs’ nose.
The Brazilians, unlike Chiefs, have had a highly successful week in which they hammered Polokwane City on the local front and beat TP Mazembe on the continental stage.
They host a Chippa United side fast being dragged into the danger zone courtesy of their failure to win in the league since November.
Also in action tomorrow will be Orlando Pirates who are dark horses for the championship. The Buccaneers are on a fantastic unbeaten run that has seen them move up the table to suddenly emerge as potential challengers.
They too had a fabulous week with wins over Chippa and Uganda Revenue Authority and will look to continue in this vein when Aces come to visit. All matches start at 7.30pm. - The Star